Pro Labore Dei (PLD) is a Not For Profit (Charity) Organization with a radical fundamental option for the poorest of the poor.
HISTORY
Six weeks later she received the blessing and approval of the then Bishop of Ibadan Diocese Rt. Rev Dr. Felix Alaba job (Now Archbishop).
Under prayerful reflections, the principles and plan of action in phases were inspired and were communicated to the Bishop in the earliest project write up of 1990.
Pro Labore Dei is a tender shoot, breaking through arid ground, amid scorching heat overcoming all oppositions, covert or overt with God’s mighty power to become a big tree under which people of all races and creed come for shelter, and to serve.
It all began as a journey to the unknown.Having received direct guidelines from God for the mission, during a nine-day novena of prayers, fasting and vigils Sr. Stella Maris marched out resolutely to pick up her first destitute. She ministered to the 1st set of destitute personally, feeding them from her meagre resources, cleaning and airing their rooms, bathing them when necessary, washing their clothes, supplying them with clothes, portable water and other necessities of life. Soon mistrust and doubt disappeared gradually and gave way to enthusiastic welcome everywhere. She later became a great friend of little children who called after her "Tita".
It was in January 1991 that help first came to Pro Labore Dei through a Redemptorist Superior Rev. Gil Enderle and his Novices. The five of them worked hard, digging to help remove the 5 year old mound of garbage in Amusa’s room in Bere. Amusa, a paraplegic, was abandoned by his relation.Others soon joined i.e. Seminarians from S.S Peter and Paul, Bodija, White Fathers (Missionary of Africa) Jesuits, one or two Dominicans and several lay people.
OUR MISSION Pro Labore Dei’s mission /apostolate is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, nurse/treat the sick poor and the aged deserted by relatives, to visit the imprisoned, be mothers to the orphaned and the abandoned children, educate the young poor whose parents cannot send to school, skill-train the trainable adults, bury the dead, and care for the spiritually hungry also through the weekly/monthly prayer meetings and counselling.
OUR MODEL Christ is the model and Him the members imitate through this radical option for the poorest of the poor, the marginalized and the down trodden. The Holiness of Christ is at the heart of all that they do as they strive to deepen their spirituality and to grow in holiness while they work.
WHAT IS IT ABOUT? As well as being an ecclesial movement and a covenant community, Pro Labore Dei is also a Non Governmental Charity Organization that is committed to working with the very poor, the destitute in our society for the improvement of their condition.
MOTTO The Motto of Pro Labore Dei is "We shall Serve"
GOAL To bring God's loving kindness to the poor, the destitute.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES Pro Labore Dei operates on the guiding principle that to give freely to the destitute continuously is to make them to remain destitute forever. It is for this reason therefore that Pro Labore Dei makes all efforts to encourage and train these people and their offspring to earn their own living so that they can take their place side by side with their Fellow-Citizens in the society. (The aged and the incapacitated don't need to learn any trade they are taken care of).
BENEFICIARIES The Jobless, Poor, Lonely orphans, Aged poor, Abandoned, Beggars, Disabled destitute, Homeless stranger, Sick poor and Children of the destitute, the uncared for, the starving poor at home yet to degenerate to street begging etc.
OBJECTIVES The mission of Pro Labore Dei (PLD) to provide holistic care to the suffering poor from cradle to grave. That is to say we:
1) Feed those who are hungry 2) Clothe those who are naked 3) Nurse those who are sick 4) House those who are homeless 5) Train those who are able: to have a skill using simple methods and informal learning techniques.
6) Rehabilitate those who are abandoned and help them as much as possible to become self-reliant 7) Develop a sense of self worth and dignity in the destitute. 8) Develop within the community at large; respect for those who are destitute and a sense of responsibility towards them. 9) To bring to Government agencies awareness of the problems of the destitute and the need to address these problems.
MISSION STATEMENT Our mission is to work, guided by his Divine Majesty, to redeem His people from destitution. With thisin mind, we consciously strive not to rob the client of whatever little dignity he has left and we avoid publicity. Clients' histories are treated as confidential. On no account should clients' data or persons be covered by media publications. Our business is to restore again their lost dignity and self-esteem, another aspect of clothing. This clothing is to reflect on all areas of the apostolate, for in this is the actualization of our goal.
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Pro Labore Dei was founded on 16th May 1990 in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State of Nigeria. It began as a reponse to God’s call to Sister Stella- Maris Okonkwo to "Go out into the streets and slum areas where people are suffering and look after the poor". She began the work with a few destitute in the Bere area of Ibadan with only a few Naira in her pocket. 
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