A Historic Homecoming: Liberia’s First Carmelite Nun Returns After Five Decades

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A Historic Homecoming: Liberia’s First Carmelite Nun Returns After Five Decades

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A HISTORIC HOMECOMING: CELEBRATING REVEREND SISTER ESPERANZA DE SANTA TERESA (SALOME GADEGBEKU)The First Liberian Contemplative Carmelite Nun Returns to the Archdiocese of Monrovia After Five DecadesMONROVIA – It is with profound joy, immense gratitude to Almighty God, and a deep sense of ecclesial pride that the Archdiocese of Monrovia announces the historic and deeply moving homecoming visit of Reverend Sister Esperanza de Santa Teresa (Salome Gadegbeku). As the very first Liberian contemplative nun of the Discalced Carmelite Order (St. Teresa), Sister Esperanza’s return marks a monumental milestone in the history of the Catholic Church in Liberia, arriving back on her native soil after more than five decades of hidden, prayerful devotion in the cloister.At 84 years of age and celebrating over 60 years of consecrated religious life, Sister Esperanza embodies a lifetime of unceasing intercession and faithful surrender to the Divine Will. Her visit to Liberia, which spanned from June 14 to June 21, 2026 was graciously facilitated and hosted by the Archbishop of Monrovia, Most Reverend Gabriel Blamo Jubwe.Accompanying Sister Esperanza on this grace-filled journey from their Carmelite Monastery in Tangier, Morocco, were two of her fellow sisters: Sister Maria Virtudes (the Reverend Mother Prioress, originally from Spain) and Sister Stefania Morlacchi (originally from Italy). Together, these dedicated handmaids of the Lord brought the spiritual atmosphere and quiet grace of Carmel to the faithful of the Archdiocese.The Roots of a Contemplative Vocation Sister Esperanza’s life journey is a beautiful testament to the mystery of God’s call. As a young student at the boarding school of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters alongside her sisters, Mary and Roseline, she felt an intense, burning desire to consecrate herself wholly to God, realizing deeply that she could not die happy without dedicating her life to the Lord.In a remarkable manifestation of the Holy Spirit on a Palm Sunday, all three sisters—without prior knowledge of each other's intentions—simultaneously wrote to their parents expressing their desire to enter religious life. While her parents discerned a true calling for Mary and Salome, they initially advised patience for Roseline.Salome entered the aspirancy, navigating initial doubts and spiritual testing. "I had learned about the Carmelites during religion class at school, where a priest spoke to us about the different forms of religious life, including the Carmelite contemplative life—one of silence and separation from the world. Upon hearing about it, I felt within me that this was what God was asking of me." ( From the Vocation Memoir of Sr. Esperanza)Following her father's wise counsel, she pursued her university studies. During her second year, her sister Felicia connected her with the then Bishop of Monrovia, who tirelessly searched for Carmelite foundations across the African continent. At the time, out of fourteen active Carmelite monasteries in Africa, thirteen were entirely French-speaking. Sister Esperanza chose the single Spanish-speaking community: the Carmel of Tangier, Morocco. Showing immense courage and linguistic versatility—she would eventually become fluent in English, Italian, Spanish, and French—she arrived in Tangier on May 4, 1964.She entered the Novitiate on November 5, 1964, and on November 6, 1965, she made her First Profession, a choice she notes she has "never regretted, being always happy, indeed, extremely happy." A Week of Communion, Remembrance, and Prayer.During her intense and grace-filled week-long stay in the Archdiocese, Sister Esperanza engaged in a series of spiritual reunions, pastoral visits, and moments of fraternal fellowship: A. Family Reunions: She spent treasured moments of recollection and reunion with beloved family members, some of whom she had not seen in over fifty years, and others who had previously made the journey to visit her monastery in Morocco.B. A Sacred Tribute: In a deeply moving and private moment, Sister Esperanza visited the cemetery to offer prayers at the grave of her late sister, Sister Rose Gadegbeku, uniting their shared earthly and heavenly vocations.C. Ecclesial & Diplomatic Courtesy: Accompanied by her fellow Carmelite sisters, and the Priest Secretary (Father Johnny-Clement Kombo) of the Archbishop she paid a courtesy visit to the Apostolic Nuncio to Liberia, His Excellency Archbishop Walter Erbi, reinforcing the global communion of the Church.D. Parish & Academic Engagement: The sisters visited the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Stella Maris Polytechnic University, Holy Innocents Parish, and St. Joseph Parish, bringing their serene presence and testimony to the local clergy, students, and lay faithful.E. Religious Fellowship: Sister Esperanza enjoyed fraternal interactions and spiritual exchanges with the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM) and the Consolata Missionaries, celebrating the diverse charisms serving the People of God.A Message of Gratitude from the Chief Shepherd- The Most Reverend Gabriel Blamo Jubwe, Archbishop of Monrovia, extends his heartfelt gratitude to the clergy, religious congregations, the Gadegbeku Family, and the lay faithful for the warmth, hospitality, and reverence offered to Sister Esperanza, Mother Maria Virtudes, and Sister Stefania Morlacchi during their historic stay.Their presence has been an immense source of spiritual renewal, an encouragement for vocations, and a vivid reminder of the power of contemplative prayer sustaining our global Church.To God be the glory!Office of the Archbishop Archdiocese of Monrovia