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By Priscilla Greear, Staff Writer
DECATUR—In the presence of supporters who filled Sts. Peter
and Paul Church, Rev. Mr. Michael Onyekuru was ordained Aug. 5 as the first
Nigerian Catholic priest for the Atlanta Archdiocese, beginning a ministry of
service to the people of North Georgia.
Archbishop John F. Donoghue celebrated the evening Mass of
ordination at the Decatur parish where Father Onyekuru has been assigned. Among
the 10 or more concelebrants were Father David Talley, chancellor and director
of vocations, Father Fred Bliss, a professor from St. Thomas Aquinas
University, Rome, where Father Onyekuru studied, and Msgr. Louis Naughton,
judicial vicar, under whom the new priest will serve part-time at the
Metropolitan Tribunal.
The festive colors worn by people in traditional African dress
dotted the predominantly African-American congregation, which included the
Knights of St. Peter Claver. At times enthusiastically swaying, the parish
choir, directed by Jackie Tilson, led the congregation in songs like
“Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” and “The Lord Is My
Light.”
Scripture readers included Andrea Ayn, a friend the candidate met
while studying in Jamaica, and the candidate’s sister-in-law, Louisa
Onyekuru, who read in the Nigerian language of Igbo. Father Talley presented
the candidate to the archbishop who accepted him for ordination.
An ordination is a miracle for parents, the archbishop said, and
“is a miracle for the generosity of the man himself, who renounces
aspirations to wealth and power and worldly success, to follow our Lord Jesus
Christ upon the way of the Cross, the way of giving up self for the sake of
others, the way of total commitment to unselfish love, where all is given, but
all is gained.”
The shepherd for the Atlanta Archdiocese spoke of the
“further ramifications of the miracle” for Father Onyekuru as he will
offer faith, hope and charity to all who seek from him the sustenance and
reassurance of religious faith. And it will be the parishioners’
responsibility, in turn, to offer him the sustenance of prayer and show him
“that support and constancy which he will need, as he begins this
life-long ministry...”
The archbishop counseled him to build his ministry on the bedrock
of Christian virtues, beginning with chastity, celibacy and purity.
“Immerse yourselves from this day on in the purity of God—His love,
which knows no motivation but its own chaste perfectness, and which will be
reflected henceforth in your utter respect for all—by uniting yourself in
holiest union with no one person, but with all persons—just as God,
through the gift of free will, has become obtainable by all...”
He called him to imitate Christ’s poverty, the secret of his
success. “... The secret of His power is that God’s love flowed
through Him with no reservation, with nothing kept for Himself, but with all
given to the help, health and uplifting of others,” he said. “Own
nothing so precious that you would not instantaneously give it up, if it means
the happiness of another, if it means the leading of another into the truth and
the peace of Christ’s faith.”
He reminded him that by giving up attachment to all earthly
treasures he might fully enjoy the spiritual luxuries of God’s kingdom.
Finally he called him to “tie yourself to the Church’s teaching, to
her guidance, to her Tradition and to her wisdom” and to be obedient to
the liberating truth of Christ from anything that would pull him from his call
to total service.
The archbishop asked the candidate kneeling before him if he was
resolved to faithfully celebrate the Mass, preach and teach God’s word and
unite himself to Christ. “I am with the help of God,” he responded.
The candidate promised obedience and respect to the archbishop and
his successors after which he lay prostrate on the floor and the congregation
invoked the intercession of the saints. Then the archbishop, followed by his
brother priests, laid hands on his head, signifying conferral of the Holy
Spirit through whom the church ordains priests.
After Father Onyekuru was vested with stole and chasuble, the
archbishop anointed the hands of the new priest with chrism to signify his
ministry to heal, sanctify and pray for God’s people. Family members
brought forward the offertory gifts. All priests embraced Father Onyekuru in a
brotherly sign of peace. He then joined Archbishop Donoghue at the altar for
the celebration of the Eucharist.
The faithful filled the parish hall afterwards for a reception.
Christian Onyekuru of Oklahoma City said his brother is very compassionate and
respected and has brought his own family closer to each other and their church.
“He is my spiritual director. He guides me in spiritual
matters ... and my wife and my kids. He’s very kind to all of us. I’m
very pleased that his spiritual aspiration has come true,” he said.
“He sends us a lot of spiritual literature that we read on all different
topics. We discuss it with him. He’s very current on what is going on in
the church. He really advocates on the need for unity in the family, in
marriage and the importance of education (of) kids in the Catholic life.”
Father Paddy Amadi, a childhood friend from Nigeria, roomed with
Father Onyekuru in Rome.
“He’s always available. Sometimes he stretches himself
to help others and I don’t always feel right at ease, but he’s always
willing to do. That’s why I think he’s going to make a good
priest,” said Father Amadi, who was ordained with Father Onyekuru’s
older brother. “He respects people, every person, especially his seniors.
Many people love him.”
Nigerian Father Martin Kalu, parochial vicar at St. Catherine of
Siena Church, Kennesaw, said the Nigerian Catholic community of Atlanta, for
whom he celebrates monthly Mass and about 175 of whom attended the ordination,
were “delighted” by the vocation. In particular, he said, he would
serve Nigerians well and strengthen church ties between his homeland and
Atlanta. Father Sylvester Nwaogu, parochial vicar at St. Theresa Church,
Douglasville, is also Nigerian and he and Father Kalu are ordained for Nigerian
dioceses while Father Onyekuru has been ordained for Atlanta.
“He’s become the son of the soil here in the
church,” he said. “I feel myself that they (Nigerians) shared so much
this evening to be the community for him. His mom couldn’t be here.
We’ve replaced the vacuum.”
As he studied in Rome and Jamaica and has had pastoral internships
in Atlanta, England and Italy since completing minor seminary in Nigeria,
Father Kalu added Father Onyekuru has a multicultural mindset suitable to serve
the diverse cultures in the United States.
Dr. Ifeanyi Anikpe, president of the Nigerian community, first met
Father Onyekuru at a Nigerian Mass last year where the seminarian was
introduced to the community. He found him to be a man of God.
“He was not arrogant. He was simple. He was humble and in his
understanding you could see somebody giving everything to God,” he said.
“The children were drawn to him and that’s unusual when children will
come to people that they don’t know ... Each one came and hugged
him.”
Anikpe said he’s approachable and cites Scripture in ordinary
conversations, making it seem more relevant. “He grew up in Nigeria,
studied in Rome, in Atlanta, and now is going to serve the people of Atlanta as
an intelligent man, an educated man and as a consecrated child of God.”
Father Onyekuru is eager to serve the faithful wherever needed.
“My great joy today is that I’m ordained and I’m working for the
people of God, caring for their spiritual and pastoral needs,” he said.
Biography
Father Michael Onyekuru
Age: 34
Birth Date: Oct. 12, 1965.
Place of Birth: Owerri, Nigeria.
Parents: The late Fidelis Obioma Onyekuru and Teresa O. Onyekuru.
Siblings: Four brothers including two priests, Father Dom-Bruno
Onyekuru, CMF, and Father Davidson Obioma Onyekuru, and five sisters.
Education: St. Peter Claver Minor Seminary, Owerri, Nigeria;
University of West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica; University of St. Thomas Aquinas,
Rome.
Work Experience: Taught economics and Scripture at St. Peter
Claver Minor Seminary, Owerri, Nigeria.
Primary Hobbies and Interests: Tennis, ping pong, football,
basketball, volleyball, making friends.
Additional Languages: Italian and Igbo, a Nigerian language.
Pastoral Internships: Summer 1999, Metropolitan Tribunal, Atlanta;
summers 1997, 1998, pastoral work at parishes in England and Italy; summers of
1993-97, served at parishes in Jamaica; summers 1991, 1992, did pastoral work
in radiology department of hospital in Cameroun.
Particular Ministries of Interest: All ministries.
First Assignment: Parochial vicar at Sts. Peter and Paul Church,
Decatur.
Pastor: Father Richard Wise.
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