HEAL Blog
Welcome! Here we will post news and highlight the faces, needs, and services of HEAL.Rev. Leo Returns to Chicago for Five Weeks
Beginning on August 2, the celebration of Leo Okonkwo’s ordination to the diaconate will continue in Chicago! He’s very excited to be visiting once again to speak about his mission in the service of orphans and widows in the self-emptying Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil...
Announcing the 2nd Annual 2015 HEAL Benefit
We are excited to announce the 2nd Annual HEAL Benefit, which will be held on September 2nd. We have set up a new 'Events' category in our main menu where you can find the event and see photos of past benefits. Please follow this link to make your reservation. Without...
Why Leo Sang His “Yes” to God
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!...
Networking in New York
Being president of a new organization means seizing any opportunity that presents itself. A dear friend of mine, Juliana, an activist on behalf of persecuted Assyrian Christians, invited me to a media event in New York last Thursday. So, I booked a flight for...
Notre Dame Graduates Impress
Graduates at the ceremony in Bafang, Cameroon, June 3. “Really great!” “Whose handiwork is this?” “Could these be our children? These were the comments of the people of the Bafang Diocese in Cameroon at the graduation ceremony of the Notre Dame Primary School students...
Leo Knows the Power of Your Prayers
As President of HEAL, I've learned over the last two years that prayer is primary in our mission. In Leo’s two visits to Chicago, when he stayed with me, I noticed how he got up early each morning for his own meditative prayer. We also attended Mass every day so...
Whose Ministry Was I Following, Anyway?
It’s been almost two years since I took on the role of HEAL president. I have been abundantly blessed to be a part of this mission that God gave to HEAL founder Leo Okonkwo over 30 years ago. I’ve often thought about whether I’m subordinating my own sense of life...
We Need to Enter the Internet World
Communication is critically important to the proper functioning of our mission. Leo and I speak on the phone twice a week to decide what we need to do and how to do it. Since HEAL was founded, this has been our primary means of communication after email. But, we are...
Christ’s Miracles Were Not Appreciated, Either
Given the missionary challenges facing the Messengers of Justice (MOJ), we attended a workshop, “Integration Challenges facing Missionaries in Diocese of Bafang, Cameroon”, on the Tuesday after Easter. It was not just an intellectual harvest, but also a profoundly...
A Journey of Faith into the Mission
My journey into this noble congregation, the Messengers of Justice, started three years ago on May 20, 2013. It was a “journey” of faith because I did not understand many things, initially, especially the teaching of our founder that we had to embrace suffering as...