About Us

Mater Christi Human Development and Religious Formation Centre, Amawbia is a multi-purpose institute established and owned by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ (IHM). Officially blessed and opened on Saturday, December 13, 2014, by His Lordship, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, Bishop of Awka Diocese, under the leadership of Mother Mary Claude Oguh, IHM and her Council, the Centre stands as a beacon of holistic formation and human development.

Rooted in the vision of our Founder, Archbishop Charles Heerey, CSSp, the Centre seeks to actualize his desire for organized, integral religious education and the holistic development of Nigerian youth. We are committed to nurturing the physical, intellectual, psychological, spiritual, and social wellbeing of all who come to us.


Our Core Departments

1. Counselling, Psychotherapy & Rehabilitation Department
This department provides professional counselling, psychotherapy, and rehabilitation for individuals facing emotional, psychological, or behavioral challenges such as depression, substance addiction, and trauma. Clients receive holistic healing through medication, therapy, spiritual direction, skill acquisition, and physical wellness programs. We carry out


2. Scholasticate Programme
Established in 2014, this one-year intensive program deepens the intellectual, theological, and pastoral formation of young female religious. It equips participants for effective missionary work within and beyond Nigeria. To date, Mater Christi has joyfully graduated ten sets of Scholastics, including members from various religious congregations.

3. Academy of Art and Sacred Music
Founded on February 6, 2016, the Academy develops and nurtures the musical talents of young people through weekend music lessons and annual August holiday programs. We believe that music is a sacred channel that uplifts the soul and strengthens spiritual connection.

4. Youth and Vocation Animation Department
Created in 2019, this department focuses on the intellectual, moral, and spiritual formation of children and young people through weekend programs, retreats, seminars, and holiday camps. The goal is to raise honest, responsible, and God-fearing citizens who will be tomorrow’s ethical leaders.

5. Institute of Catechesis and Psycho-Spiritual Formation (ICAPOF)
Initially founded in 2019 as an institute for training catechists and religious educators, ICAPOF expanded in 2023 to include psycho-spiritual formation. The curriculum now combines catechetical, theological, psychological, and spiritual development for catechists, vocation directors, religious formators, and leaders in both Church and society.

6. Family Light of the Nation Foundation
Launched in 2016, this pro-life and pro-family initiative promotes and defends the sanctity of human life and marriage through counselling, fertility seminars, family enrichment workshops, and youth entrepreneurship programs. The department relocated in 2023 to Immaculate Heart Specialist Hospital, Nkpor, for broader outreach.

7. Catering Services and Skill Acquisition Department
This department supports events such as weddings, seminars, and conferences, while also offering skill acquisition training for clients in the rehabilitation program.

8. Accommodation and Gymnasium Facilities
We provide serene and comfortable spaces for individuals seeking rest, reflection, and renewal. The gymnasium complements our holistic approach to wellness by promoting physical health and vitality.


Our Commitment

At Mater Christi Centre, we are devoted to fostering integral human development through compassionate service, transformative education, and spiritual renewal. We remain grateful to God for the success stories of those whose lives have been touched and transformed through our programs.