I have and can tell many stories
about twenty years of being a priest, but no tale would be as compelling or
interesting as an incident that happened to me shortly before my priestly
ordination on June 22, 1991.
Thirteen of us were gathered at a place called
Iperu-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria for our last spiritual retreat as transitory
deacons. During that retreat I felt deeply unworthy to present myself for
priestly ministry. I related my feeling and experience to my spiritual director.
He told me it was a great feeling to have, and assured me that in the history of
the world no other priest was worthy of the priestly state or office except
Jesus Christ! That response by my spiritual director has been a true experience
for me every day in the past twenty years - unworthiness before the most
merciful, most just, most worthy, most loving, most patient, most kind, most
faithful, most glorious, most admirable, most powerful, most holy, most exalted,
all wise and all knowing God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
The great consolation I have had these years is that
several of the figures of our Judeo-Christian heritage have had this experience
of unworthiness. I am thinking of the call stories of several prophets like
Isaiah (see 6:1-8), Jeremiah (see 1:3-12), Ezekiel (see 1: 26-2.7) and Amos (see
7:14-17). Peter's confession of sinfulness in the New Testament as he
encountered Jesus (see Luke 5:8) poignantly captures what I am trying to say.
And you may add to it the beautiful words of the Letter to the Hebrews talking
about the high priest and comparing him with Christ:
"And one does not take the honor upon himself, but
he is called by God, just as Aaron was" (5:4).
God has met me each day, along the twenty years of
my priestly life, with abundant and great mercy! Great faithfulness God has
shown through the sacraments, especially Eucharist and Reconciliation. And if
God's grace allows me, I intend to present myself frequently to Jesus' healing,
reconciling and exalting presence that the sacraments offer. I pledge allegiance
to Holy Mother the Church in her teachings and the discipline of the saints - to
know the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit (see John 17:3). I renew my
promise of full commitment to my missionary family: the Missionary Society of
St. Paul and I pray that those who support our missionary work may grow in
number and strength.
Great is God's faithfulness through my different
assignments as a priest! Beginning with vocation/formation of candidates for
the priesthood in Nigeria (1991-1994), to ministry in Cameroon (1995), to
development/raising friends and funds (Barrett Station/ Houston, TX:
1996-2009), to parish ministry in Garden City, KS (2009-2010), to the
Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle - National Shrine in San Juan, TX
(2010 to the present). Great is God's faithfulness in my travels on four
continents except Asia! Great is God's faithfulness that I have been
privileged to broadcast His message in 5 languages! Great is God's
faithfulness in the different peoples I have encountered in fellowship,
prayer and liturgy (see Acts 2:42)! Great is God's faithfulness, knowing
that three of the better men of my ordination class: Frs. Bartholomew Monye,
Benjamin Anasiudu and Basil Aguinam have gone before us marked with the sign
of faith! I have often thought that I am the most fortunate priest to be
known and loved, and to be in the prayers of so many!
Going forward, I would need a lot of grace from
God and much prayer from YOU! I pledge to keep YOU in my prayer and Masses.
When we meet in paradise I want to be able to tell YOU that I sang these
verses often for myself and for YOU, "The steadfast love of the Lord never
ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are renewed each morning;
great is your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23; see Psalm 117: 2).
