Q. Tell us about your own vocation story. What led you to the priesthood?
A. I was drawn to the priesthood as a child, when there was an ordination in my own village. The one who was ordained was my uncle and baptism sponsor. I still remember the date: July 2, 1983. I was in about the 3^rd grade and I was inspired to the priesthood at that time. In fact, I even wrote on the wall of my house Reverend Father Rupert Chinedu! My father never removed it. Even when he painted, he would paint around it.
 
Q. What do you like best about being a priest?
A. I would say it’s a privilege, being a priest and ministering the sacraments. As the Scripture says, “No one takes this honor upon himself” Heb. 5:4. Even the Blessed Mother was not given this privilege (she has many other privileges that no one else has, but she does not have the priesthood). The opportunity for struggling for my own salvation and helping others to attain their salvation is the priest’s number one responsibility. So, what I like best about being a priest is having the opportunity for this privilege and responsibility.
 
Q. What challenges do you see in the priesthood, either generally or in your country or ours?
A. First, in general: the fact that people look up to you. Expectation is high, as it should be. It is a challenge to live up to that. I don’t know enough yet about your country, but in Nigeria, terrorism and multiplication of denominations are the greatest challenges. Different denominations run each other down, attack each other verbally, and try to take each other’s members, which hurts Christianity. In a crisis, we should be more united, but we seem to be more divided. And the terrorists attack the Catholic Church more than the other denominations because there are more Catholics, it is a bigger target, and it is more visible than smaller or less familiar denominations. Nonetheless, the Church continues to grow in the midst of terrorism.
 
Q. What advice do you have for young people considering the priesthood or religious life?
A. It is a worthy vocation, a privilege and a challenge. I would say to go into the ministry, because the world needs us so very much. We need both priests and religious. I noticed when I arrived that you have a large convent, and it is empty. And there are more priests here retiring than are being ordained.
 
Right now, vocations are booming in some dioceses in Nigeria. Someone asked me once if I thought that if things were more stable we would have as many vocations. Perhaps not. But I do know that even in the midst of comfort – we can think of St. Francis of Assisi – God still calls and people still answer. So, that’s very encouraging.
 
Q. What are some spiritual practices that help you grow closer to the Lord?
A. First: Fasting. (How do you fast?) I allow a small window of time in the day to eat, maybe one meal, maybe two, and sometimes none. Complete fast. (How does this help you spiritually?) It teaches discipline, and it strengthens petitions for my needs and for the needs of others. I always combine fasting with certain prayers: Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, and Divine Mercy prayers.
 
Second: Devotion to the Eucharist. The Eucharist is the center of the Catholic faith. I spend time before the Lord in Adoration almost daily.
 
Q. Now for a few personal questions. How many languages do you speak?
A. I speak three languages: Igbo, which is the language of my tribe and used widely in the southeast, Hausa, which is the language of the north, and English, which is the official language of Nigeria. I know a little French and Latin, but not enough to say I speak them. Everyone in Nigeria speaks any of the three major languages, apart from English: Igbo (in the southeast), Hausa (in the north) or Yoruba (in the southwest).
 
Q. Do you have a favorite pastime?
A. Since I got absorbed into academics, I don’t have a lot of free time. I enjoy learning and have a number of degrees, including two PhDs (one in Educational Administration and Planning, another in Educational Psychology), two Master’s Degrees (each in the same fields as the PhDs), two Postgraduate Diplomas (one in Education, the other in Public Administration) and three undergraduate degrees in Philosophy, Theology, and Educational Management. I just really enjoy learning.
 
Q. Is there anything that would surprise us about you?
A. Well… I know it will sound very funny… but before I got absorbed into academics I used to like to watch wrestling. I don’t know, I just liked it! I know there’s a lot of acting in it, but it was just fun.
 
Q. How has your reception been at St. Jude?
A. Wonderful. So wonderful. In our homeland, we are rejected especially as Igbo people living or working in the north, but here we are accepted. Everyone is so welcoming, making me feel at home, like family. In Nigeria we are made to feel like foreigners in our own land. Everyone here, including those at the archdiocese, have been so kind.
 
Q. Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself?
A. I have been a priest for 17 years now, and have been assigned to 11 parishes and pastored 8 of them. Despite my parish responsibilities, I’ve always been involved in academics, whether it was in the primary or secondary school, and also at the college in our diocese in Nigeria (I was Deputy Registrar for about 2 years, Registrar for 7 years and Acting Rector for just 2 months). This explains my love of academics.
 
I would also like to once again thank Fr. Costa, the staff, and all the people I have met for your kindness and warmth. Everyone has been so wonderful.
 
Thank you, Father, and again, welcome!