THREE MONTHS OF BEING A PRIEST

With the title of this post you already know that I am a Priest. And by the title too, you would understand that today marks 3 months of me being a priest. I was ordained on the 13th of August 2022 at Christ the King Cathedral Aba, in Nigeria by His Lordship, Bishop Echema Augustin.

Rewind back to when I began this journey. When I joined a missionary congregation in 2013, I had made up my mind to be celibate for the rest of my life.

In front of my family, friends and hundreds of other people, I vowed to devote my life to the church on the occasionof my religious profession (In Chastity, obedience, poverty and perseverance). Little did I know the challenges that accompanied all this; only God knows.

What really informed my decision of joining the seminary and becoming a priest, was admiring the lifestyle of some priests I had met before my admission into the seminary. Having developed my desire from observing some of the missionaries in my home Diocese such as Fr. Matthew Dze, Fr. Celestine Iyongo and Fr. Ambrose Amue, I was so confident about becoming a priest that I happily shared it with everyone.

I wanted to be a priest so I could be around ordinary people and have a positive influence on their lives. My last day in the seminary couldn’t come quick enough. I had desired nothing else more than being a priest. The seminary period of 9 years to 10 years seemed like eternity.

After been admitted into the seminary and clothed in the cassock of my congregation, I began my philosophical studies in which I excelled with profound excellence and integrity, the road to the priesthood seemed tough but it was a challenge I was ready and willing to take.

Infact on my first holiday after some months in the seminary my parents were proud and happy to see me (their son) on cassock. The neighbours were never tired of calling me "Father." My friends called me "Padre" and many of those who knew me before I left for the seminary treated me with a high sense of reverence and respect. It was as though everyone was happy with the decision I made.

I remember my first Sunday mass at home as a seminarian. I joined in processing to the altar at st. Joseph's Parish Akpehe with the priest Rev. Fr. Oliver Ortese alongside the altar servers to assist at the sanctuary. I remember my gentle smile, my calm demeanor and the graced liturgical steps I displayed which thrilled the heart of all and sundry. One could hear some side comments like "isn't that Bem" " what a cute seminarian, what a wonderful cassock and a host of other comments.....it was mass of Commentaries for some people.

Let's now fast forward to the year 2022. On the 13th of August, I was ordained a Catholic priest together with 6 others.

I celebrated my first mass the next day at Obinze Barracks on the 14th of August 2022.

How time flies, today i am already celebrating 3 months of being a priest. To God be the glory. I am grateful to God for all this privilege of serving in His vineyard and I pray for more graces.

I wanted to be a priest so I could be around ordinary people and have a positive influence on their lives.

Finally, my one desire of being a priest was to be on a mission where I could be around ordinary people and minister to them like an ordinary Priest and to God be the glory, my first posting is in Cameroon to the faithful people of Kumba Diocese. This is a place ravaged by wars but I know God has a plan for me. In less than two weeks I'll report to Cameroon for my first assignment as a priest and I employ your prayers as I emback on this mission that God will sustain me all through my stay there.

Peace be with you all.