You are welcome to Centre For Renewal - CFR, a serene, prayerful place in which the Spirit of God touches the human hearts and renews all who come seeking the face of God, recovery and restoration. It is characterized by welcoming smiles, prayer, discernment, private/guided retreats, classroom settings, research, Eucharistic celebration, adoration and personal space for self-assessment. It offers the environment for individual and interactive recreation and meditating the power of God manifested in Nature. CFR offers enriching variety of programmes aimed at holistic renewal; integral human development, and the admiration of/respect for the integrity of Creation. Exotic song birds welcome you to their beautiful choruses and creative dances all day long.
Centre For Renewal was founded in 1980 by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, SHCJ, an international, pontifical, pastoral, educational women religious congregation of the Catholic Church, founded by Cornelia Connelly, an American, in England in October 1846 at the invitation of Pope Gregory the XVI and the request of Archbishop Wiseman who soon became Cardinal. SHCJ was entrusted with mandate to be channels of God’s incarnate mercy in the world, being attentive to the wants of the age. The Congregation now has men and women Associates in Mission, who, together with alumni, strive to integrate the mission of the Society in their different states of life. The Sisters were welcome to Jos by the then Bishop Gabriel Gonsum Ganaka, who soon became the first Catholic Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Jos and the Metropolitan of Jos Province.
CFR is a hospitable wooded place located in the Rock Haven-Utan Area of Jos. It is beautifies with scented roses and other flowers, fruit trees, shy but friendly song birds, fascinating sunrise and sunset sky, adorned by the giant star - the Southern Cross and other Stars and the Moon at night, and surrounded by exotic rocky hills. Above all, served by happy, vibrant and dedicated Staff. CFR nearest neighbour in the SHCJ international novitiate with whom we share much in common such as resource persons, facilities etc.
CFR is endowed with comfortable facilities include: excellent chapels, classroom/meeting rooms, private direction and counseling rooms, library, respectful accommodation facilities, recreation room, dining room, a large reception hall, and outdoor event space.
The CFR vision is human beings understanding that they are made in the image and likeness of God and to live accordingly; God’s children fully alive and active, accepting God as the centre of their lives and destiny and impelled by and freely taking the responsibility to live out the Call to be channels of God’s Incarnate Mercy and Mary’s compassion. People engrossed with loving God above all else and our neighbour as ourselves. We collaborate with others, including those of other Faiths, individuals and Institutions who share this vision, for the praise and greater glory of God, our liberation, transformation and salvation.
The mission of Centre For Renewal, rooted in the Gospel and inspired by the call of Vatican II Ecumenical Council – Aggionamento and collaboration, draws from the mission of its founder the Society of the Holy Child Jesus which is, “to help others to believe that God lives and acts in them and in our world and to rejoice in God’s presence” (SHCJ Consts. #4).
Hence the CFR accompanies in spiritual direction, directed retreat, teaching and learning sessions, supervision and mentoring, those seeking to develop their relationship with God, personal growth and right relationship with one another and creation.
A growing attention is given to the need of the youth and children: the need for conscientization, positive visualization and empowerment of those from interfaith backgrounds to respect the dignity of each person and promote the common good and to understand that we all have our origin from the same and one True God. Here is the hidden key for the survival of the human society.
CFR welcomes priests, religious and laity and groups and individuals from other Faiths to its evolving, enriching diversity of programmes aimed at holistic renewal, integral human development and integrity of creation. There is a renewed emphasis on and commitment to empowering and building the youth and children.
Its comfortable facilities include excellent meeting/classrooms, private direction and counseling rooms, library, non-exaggerated and respectful accommodation facilities, recreation room, dining room, private dining room for individual retreatant or couples, reception hall, outdoor event space. It is a hospitable, wooded place adorned with scented roses, queen of the night, flamboyant, jacaranda, fruit trees, and shy but friendly song birds, fascinating sunrise and sunset skies and surrounded by Jos exotic Rocky Mountains and hills.
CFR commitment may be summarized as Educational/training/formation: study, research and teaching; Pastoral – spiritual accompaniment in directed retreats, and ongoing spiritual direction, peace building, grieving, ongoing prayer, Counseling Facilitation services; and offering Sustainable Space, Hospitality, time and expertise frequently called upon by others.
Groups may also use the Centre for their programmes in line with the purpose of the centre, and must book well in advance. Individuals may take time off for rest, reflection to reconnect with the Divine, rejuvenate and get back to their personal life and ministry with renewed energy and vigor.
Centre For Renewal is run by a team of fulltime Holy Child Sisters, supported by vibrant dedicated Staff, visiting experts from the Society Of the Holy Child, Vowed members and Associates in mission and others from Jos, Bauchi, CIWA and other parts of Nigeria and beyond.
In collaboration with others, the team offers services to Dioceses, Schools, Religious Congregations, Academic and Pastoral institutions and families within and outside Nigeria.
Centre For Renewal also partners with some Universities abroad e.g, Creighton University, USA by welcoming, mentoring and supervising their students on internship practicum on Spiritual Direction and directed retreat training.
Centre For Renewal - CFR for Jesus is at the service of humanity for the praise and greater glory of God, the common good and the salvation all people. Being God-centred CFR welcomes all who seek rest, restoration and renewal, and prepared to engage in personal, individually-guided or interactive search and prayer. It encourages openness to possibilities, welcoming showers of graces poured down from heaven and praises rising from the human hearts now returning with renewed faith, energy and vigor. Mary Protectress of the faith, come to our aid. St. Joseph, pray for us. Venerable Cornelia Connelly, pray for us. Gabriel Gonsum Ganaka, Servant of God, pray us.