On June 13, 1968, I was born in the tiny village of Akpim in Imo State, Nigeria. Two weeks ago, on June 13, 2015, I have finally experienced a new birth into the priestly ministry of Jesus Christ as a Deacon in the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Douala in Cameroon! As founder of Messengers of Justice Congregation (MOJ) and of Home To Enhance African Life (HEAL) based in Chicago, Illinois, I joyfully announce the attainment of this long-awaited milestone in my life’s mission!
My ordination into the Clerical state in the Holy Roman Catholic Church culminated from a long 18-year period comprised of education, formation, and several unplanned delays. The delays were due to changing plans, the unique responsibilities of my mission to the poor and marginalized, and my own sins and mistakes. I am, therefore, eternally grateful to God and to the Bishop of Bafang, Cameroon, Abraham Kome, for appreciating the dynamic, multi-faceted, multi-generous, and creative work of my MOJ Congregation as a gift for the local Church of Bafang.
My ordination generates a profound feeling of satisfaction in doing the will of God in spite of the long delays and distractions that have marked my vocational journey. I manifested this profound feeling spontaneously during the ordination rite in the Douala Cathedral. The ordaining Bishop, John Bosco, went to each of the 25 candidates for Diaconate and asked each one a question, which required a recited response according to the ritual. When he interrogated me, I couldn’t help but SING my response out loud prompting an ovation of all the attendees in the Cathedral!
After the Ordination Mass, a reporter asked my why I changed the format of my response from recitation to song. I said, “I have waited to seal this promise as a vow to my God for 18 years. I wanted it not just as a recitation but a celebratory song so that heaven and earth would bear me witness that I yearned and waited for this day with my whole heart and being. That is the profound joy in my ordination today.” And, so, dear friends and supporters of HEAL and my fellow MOJ religious, let us all celebrate this blessing together for the building up of the Body of Christ!
