It is the divine will for humans to fill the earth. It is all the more the divine will for all men to be saved having lived worthy life here on earth (cf. 1 Tim 2: 4), so as to come to an eternal livelihood with God. For this purpose, God through his divine wisdom selects from among men those who would become his instruments here on earth for this purpose of salvation. We are thankful that our son, brother, friend, is one of those instruments through which God’s salvation may reach all mankind. On the 12/12/1989, the creative power of God was richly evident on Mrs. Maria, the wife of Mr. Donatus Ezekoka as the six fruits of her womb were completed with a twin, one of whom was Onyekachi (as the other joined his Creator few months after their baptism); a son whose existence not only affirms God’s greatness to humanity, but also nominally poses a question for a counter proof of God’s greatness – ONYEKACHI? (Who's greater than God?) Onyekachi was baptized on the 28th day of February 1990 with the name, Peter at Christ the King Cathedral Aba by Fr. Martin Kalu. Thus, his membership in the common priesthood was authenticated. He received the sacraments of the Holy Eucharist (on 23rd May, 1999) in St. Mary's Catholic Church Abayi Ariaria Aba; and then of Confirmation (on August 15, 1999) by Bishop V.V. Ezeonyia in the same Abayi Ariaria Catholic parish.
ACADEMIC/FORMATIVE YEARS
Peter went through nursery and primary school education between the years 1992-2000 in Famaoke Nursery and Primary School Abayi Ariaria Aba and St. Michaels Catholic School Umuocheala, respectively. As a boy, just like Samuel (1Sam.3), Peter felt the inner calling to transcend the common priesthood into the ministerial priesthood. Thanks to the cooperative instrumentality of his parents, he sat for the entrance exam into the Congregation of Christ the Emmanuel and his success gained him admission (2000).
Peter’s secondary education took a tripartite nature: he started Junior Secondary in Annunciation Seminary Amaudara (2000-2001) Abia State, moved over to Marist Comprehensive Academy, Uturu, Abia State (2001-2004), and then concluded with St. Peter Claver Seminary, Okpala, Imo state (2004-2006). Peter then proceeded for a one year experience with the Lord (2006-2007).
Onyeka - as those who knew him from childhood would call him - started his Philosophical Studies in the Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu (2007) and ended in the Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Owerri (2008-2011). His name had great impact on him. As a first year Philosopher, he was made the prefect of his class in the Bigard. During his philosophy studies in the Seat of Wisdom Seminary, he won the best psychology student and was then honoured with the Academic Award instituted by Most Rev. Dr. Augustine T. Ukwuoma. He also made a First Class result in Philosophy from the Imo State University, Owerri (2011).
Peter also ended his Theological Studies in the Seat of Wisdom as the prefect of his class. His cheerfulness, laden with intellectual cum social dexterity, made him to be sought after. He is amiable to all. In appreciation of his numerous qualities and virtues, his Superiors and teachers found him worthy of walking along the corridors of authority such that he won various prizes for academic and social excellence, and was entrusted with respectable functions last of them included: Chief Master of Liturgical Ceremony and Chief Auditor of the Seminary. Peter was also one of the only three seminarians in the whole of Nigeria selected to go on a pilgrimage to the Eternal City – Rome (July 2 – July 9, 2013). Having witnessed his academic zeal and doggedness as a young theology student, one of his professors in theology, Prof. Austin Echema invited him to participate in the CATHAN (Catholic Theological Association of Nigeria) conferences, which then made him gain membership into the CATHAN family in 2016.
Rev. Fr. Peter is an intellectual light that shines not for himself alone but willingly for others. He proved that he is an intellectual behemoth when he was honoured as the Best Graduating Student with First class honours in Bachelors in Theology (BTh) from the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome at the end of his Theological studies in the Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Owerri (2015) and with another First Class in Religious Studies from the Imo State University, Owerri in the same year. His hobbies include reading, writing scripts, poems and articles, and playing football.
Peter also ended his Theological Studies in the Seat of Wisdom as the prefect of his class. His cheerfulness, laden with intellectual cum social dexterity, made him to be sought after. He is amiable to all. In appreciation of his numerous qualities and virtues, his Superiors and teachers found him worthy of walking along the corridors of authority such that he won various prizes for academic and social excellence, and was entrusted with respectable functions last of them included: Chief Master of Liturgical Ceremony and Chief Auditor of the Seminary. Peter was also one of the only three seminarians in the whole of Nigeria selected to go on a pilgrimage to the Eternal City – Rome (July 2 – July 9, 2013). Having witnessed his academic zeal and doggedness as a young theology student, one of his professors in theology, Prof. Austin Echema invited him to participate in the CATHAN (Catholic Theological Association of Nigeria) conferences, which then made him gain membership into the CATHAN family in 2016.
Rev. Fr. Peter is an intellectual light that shines not for himself alone but willingly for others. He proved that he is an intellectual behemoth when he was honoured as the Best Graduating Student with First class honours in Bachelors in Theology (BTh) from the Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome at the end of his Theological studies in the Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Owerri (2015) and with another First Class in Religious Studies from the Imo State University, Owerri in the same year. His hobbies include reading, writing scripts, poems and articles, and playing football.
PASTORAL EXPERIENCES
Just as the Apostles were sent (Matt.10: 5 -15), Peter was also sent to evangelize in the following mission lands:
St. John the Baptist, Aku-Eziniffite, Awka Diocese – 2007
Christ the King Parish, Agwa, Owerri Archdiocese – 2008
St. Martins Catholic Church, Eziukwu, Aba – 2009
Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Umuagba, Aba Diocese – 2010
St. Judes Parish, Agu-Ibeje, Nsukka Diocese – 2011
St. Cletus Parish, Otolo, Nnewi Diocese – 2012
Our Lady Queen of Assumption Parish, Umuariam – Obowo, Okigwe Diocese – 2013
Stella Maris Parish, Orodo, Owerri Archdiocese – 2014
As a seminarian on Internship and as a priest, Fr Peter has served in
Emmanuelite Junior Seminary, Ohuru, Aba Diocese -2015-2017
St. Martin's Parish/Schools, Eziukwu Aba -2017-2018
Fr Peter was sent to Scotland by his Superiors to continue his priestly life since May 29, 2018. Fr Peter is grateful to God for the role Fr. John Egbulefu, the founder of the Emmanuelite Congregation played in his vocation to the priesthood. He is very grateful also to Fr. Innocent Ajuonu the former Administrator (since 2015-2020) of his Diocese of Incardination, Aba for his outstanding role so far. May God continue to use Fr Peter to bless all those who encounter him as his priest.
ECCLESIASTICAL MINISTRY AND ORDERS
This is the progression of how Peter received the minor and major Ministries in preparation for the ministerial priesthood: Ministry of Lector on 30th March, 2013, from the hands of Late Bishop V.V. Ezeonyia; Ministry of Acolyte on 4th May, 2014, from the hands of Late Bishop V.V. Ezeonyia; Deaconate Ordination on 17th March at CKC Aba, from the hands of Bishop Gregory Ochiagha, Emeritus of Orlu Diocese. He was ordained a priest on 20th August 2016 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Umunkpei by the Rev. Dr. Nwachukwu Fortunatus, the Apostolic Nuncio to Trinidad and Tobago.
As a seminarian on Internship and as a priest, Fr Peter has served in
Emmanuelite Junior Seminary, Ohuru, Aba Diocese -2015-2017
St. Martin's Parish/Schools, Eziukwu Aba -2017-2018
Fr Peter was sent to Scotland by his Superiors to continue his priestly life since May 29, 2018. Fr Peter is grateful to God for the role Fr. John Egbulefu, the founder of the Emmanuelite Congregation played in his vocation to the priesthood. He is very grateful also to Fr. Innocent Ajuonu the former Administrator (since 2015-2020) of his Diocese of Incardination, Aba for his outstanding role so far. May God continue to use Fr Peter to bless all those who encounter him as his priest.
Written by Rev Fr Umezulike Alphonsus
Dear Fr. Peter,
ReplyDeleteWould we be able to use images from your website on our bulletin covers? It would be about 50 copies. Could you let me know by email?
Dr. E. Graham McKinley
First Presbyterian Church of Matawan, NJ
mckinley@rider.edu