Sent forth to preach God's word
Published: 2 October 2011
By: Selina Venier
Thanksgiving: Newly-ordained Father Anthony Ekpo (right) with Coolangatta-Tugun parish priest Fr Kevin Smith on July 31 following his Ordination Mass the day before
Three Nigerians who had been in formation for the priesthood at Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary, Banyo, returned to their homeland recently to be ordained. Journalist SELINA VENIER caught up with them when they arrived back in Brisbane to begin the next stage of their mission as priests
MISSION has a multi-faceted meaning for newly ordained Fathers Augustine Obi, Anthony Ekpo and Chima (JohnBosco) Ofor, who have now begun new placements in Brisbane archdiocese.
The friends, from Umauhia diocese in Nigeria, returned home for their presbyterate ordination on July 30 in Mater Dei Cathedral.
They had completed formation at Holy Spirit Provincial Seminary, Banyo, as part of an agreement between the dioceses.
Seminary rector Monsignor Tony Randazzo, Coolangatta-Tugun parish priest Fr Kevin Smith, Brisbane's Fr Dave O'Connor, Kenmore parish priest Fr Francis Onwunali, 200 other priests and bishops and an estimated 10,000 also witnessed the ordination.
Msgr Randazzo said he "hasn't stopped talking about" his first trip to Africa and "the incredible sense of joy" of the people because of their faith in God.
"We were driving along one of the roads, behind a big semi-trailer," he recalled.
"Painted on the back (of the semi-trailer) was a huge image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
"I was astounded ... everywhere we turned there were symbols and signs of faith."
Msgr Randazzo said faith was expressed "no more clearly than when the people themselves gathered", particularly on a Sunday.
"On a Sunday, the whole day is dedicated to the Church," he said.
"People walk or drive or ride bikes from their village houses to the village church.
"Thousands of people gather for Mass for several hours.
"Then they'll have lunch together and then spend time in catechesis - for children and in adult gatherings.
"They'll sing and dance and eventually in the late afternoon, they'll go home.
"The entire day is set aside as being the Lord's Day."
Such exuberant worship was witnessed before, during and after July 30, Msgr Randazzo saying it "was a wonderful festive feeling".
"They had choirs of people singing special parts," he said.
"They had drums, orchestras and trumpets ... people just raised the roof.
"I get goose bumps just thinking about it."
With 5000 worshippers within the cathedral and "just as many outside" Fathers Obi, Ekpo and Ofor, who were ordained with 18 others, could not help but feel a sense of "wow".
"I mean, I walked in and thought 'wow' ... really 'wow'," Fr Ekpo said, the others agreeing.
Each had hundreds from their individual parishes present as well as countless family members and friends.
Fr Obi said he met family members he hadn't previously known while Fr Ofor first spoke of the sense of "fulfilment" felt in the journey to priesthood "arriving at such a moment".
At the start of the four-hour ordination Mass, Bishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji of Umuahia acknowledged the presence of the Brisbane clergy and of the "working spiritual partnership" between the dioceses.
Msgr Randazzo said he "had the most overwhelming sense" all of those to be ordained "were committed to the priesthood and the Church".
"No one stood up and said, 'look at me'," he said.
"While vocation to the priesthood is a deeply personal call it's not an individual vocation - it's a personal call that God places on a man to serve the Church for the rest of his life.
"When I spoke to our three men and others they all kept referring to the fact the priesthood is about the Church (and) for a rector of a seminary that just warms my heart."
Fr Obi was "vested" during the ordination Mass by Msgr Randazzo, a moment they both said was a highlight and for the rector "a privilege".
Fr Ekpo said his ordination Mass highlights were the Laying on of Hands, the Litany of the Saints and moments during the Eucharistic Prayer.
"The Laying on of Hands was amazing ... we were kneeling there and seeing all these hands of the priests coming towards us," he said.
"(And) the Litany of the Saints was like a total surrender before God."
Fr Obi was overcome by the sense of "solidarity" the Mass offered.
"It was phenomenal for me because it involved the whole village," he said.
"Everybody did something."
Fr Ofor said his ordination was "like a reunion" - especially of family members who are rarely all together.
Four hours after they processed into Mater Dei Cathedral, the newly ordained priests recessed to the sound of more drumming, singing and, of course, dancing.
That joy reached well into the following day and throughout their individual Masses of Thanksgiving, each priest admitting "not much sleep was had" between them.
"Sleep was quite impossible that night," Fr Obi said.
Because of the number of visitors "packing" all available homes Fr Obi said he "slept at a friends'" to allow more room for others.
Fr Ofor, who went to sleep at 2.30am following his ordination, said his Thanksgiving Mass was "like a dream".
"I woke up that morning and looked at my hands and asked, 'Am I really a priest?'" he said.
"It's a dream come true for me."
Msgr Randazzo spoke openly about joining the animated worship and of "the great opportunity" he and Fr O'Connor experienced in visiting the homes of each new priest.
"We enjoyed such wonderful hospitality," Msgr Randazzo said.
"Their families are remarkable people.
"I was fortunate to meet Anthony's grandmother, in her 80s, and when I met her she was just filled with so much joy she started to dance.
"This woman, in her 80s, was doing this wonderful dance of life and joy - it was just beautiful."
The visiting clergy also met some of the families of the other Nigerian seminarians in Brisbane - in what Msgr Randazzo said allowed an appreciation of "a rich tapestry".
"I looked at the parents and some of the brothers and sisters of our seminarians and I could just see their faces," he said.
"It puts a rich tapestry behind them because you don't only see personality but you also see a depth of faith."
Asked if their families noticed a change in them since leaving Nigeria some years ago, only Fr Ofor said those close to him noticed how "unchanged" he was.
"They told me I'm going bald," Fr Ekpo joked within an eruption of laughter.
"... They said I am more mature in the way I see things."
"They said I was taller," Fr Obi added to the candid conversation.
" ... They also said I am more mature from the point of view of ideology - in that I used to take things seriously and now I don't.
"I'm more easy going."
Fr Obi was the first to admit leaving his family, after "reconnecting" with his parents in particular, was "very, very difficult".
"I had a great time being home," he said.
"We went to the market together, cleaned the house ... did all the normal things.
"So I found it very difficult to leave Nigeria - very hard to say good bye to my parents - but that's where the sense of mission comes in."
Fr Ekpo said leaving among "high emotions" didn't "weigh" him down.
"I used every opportunity to be with my family," he said of the recent time at home.
"But being a priest is what I am called to be and what I am called to do.
"I told them, 'I'll be back'."
Fr Ofor agreed that leaving Nigeria gave rise to heightened emotions but remained focused on his future ministry.
He will serve in Gatton and Laidley parishes while Fr Ekpo has been appointed to Surfers Paradise and Fr Obi to Albany Creek parish.
Each associate pastor position is for two years and has begun.
Msgr Randazzo said their collective "sense of mission" differed to those who served within their country of origin.
"When we talk about mission ... we give the etymology of the word 'missio' which means 'being sent'," he said.
"Talking about it from your own backyard and being sent to serve in your own backyard is, on a certain level, theoretical.
"These men have been tapped on the shoulder by their bishop who said, 'I want you to go to Australia to be a priest'.
"They get on a plane and travel to the other side of the planet and they begin to minister as priests so it's more than just theory - it's practice.
"I think they have a very different perspective on mission because it's a very differently lived reality.
"It's very much 'being sent' ... there's a very big difference to being sent to the other side of Brisbane to being sent to the other side of the planet."
Msgr Randazzo said in his three years as rector the Nigerian seminarians had "without exception" given themselves generously to the mission of the Church.
"My experience is they have a wonderful sense of generosity," he said.
Fathers Obi, Ekpo and Ofor praised the rector for his newly-acquired skills in their native Ibo dialect and for allowing them to express themselves musically and rhythmically at the seminary.
It seems the joy of faith Msgr Randazzo publicly said he wished he could "take back to Australia" has already arrived.
