Prolonged Illness Inspires Nigerian Catholic Bishop’s New Initiative to Care for Sick Clergy and Religious

Bishop Hilary Nanman Dachelem of the Diocese of Bauchi has established the Missionaries of Our Lady of Tears of Syracuse (MOLTOS) to care for sick bishops, priests, and vulnerable religious members. The bishop canonically erected the association in his diocese with the hope that it will eventually grow into a religious congregation.

Bishop Dachelem said his decision to create the group followed a year-long illness that kept him away from his diocese. He noted that clergy can become helpless and destitute when illness removes them from active ministry, often lacking the support needed to recover.

The new community intends to provide care for sick clergy to help them recover and, when possible, return to their pastoral ministry. Bishop Dachelem stated the initiative was a response to his personal experience of seeing how clergy can be left to languish without assistance.