obinna

These words are from the anthem of the Spiritans, a lovely hymn named "Go ye Afar". As a young boy at the Holy Ghost Juniorate, Ihiala, a minor seminary, I so much loved this Spiritan Anthem whenever it was intoned, even though most of us then never understood its full message. Also, we rarely got the words pronounced correctly. All we knew was that we enjoyed the song particularly the end of it that was repeatedly chorused, 'and bring good news of peace'. The message to the real meaning of this great anthem dawned on me when I went for my first official apostolic experience in the Southern region of Nigeria. Apostolic experience is a six weeks field experience seminarians have every year to match class theories with practical applications. In this place, I saw myself working in a region outside my own culture and language but within the same country. I was sent to an outstation far from the parish where you have to travel for hours on a lonely road to get to the station. My means of travel was either the catechist's bicycle or motorcycle transport (what we call Okada). Sometimes the motorcyclist will carry three to four people so as to cover his money and since the road was muddy, salty and slippery, they charge upfront in anticipation for the repairs. I remember on one occasion, I went with some youth to see the parish priest with our own bicycles. On our way home, it started raining heavily that the bicycle could no longer move smoothly on the muddy road. Some rode safely home but some of us had no option other than to carry our bicycles on our heads if we were to reach home that same day. We carried our bicycles and got home around 8 to 9 pm. My classmate from the other station was living in a room with a native doctor (Juju man). Each time I visited him I said some prayers for protection. It was indeed an awesome sight. Of course, mosquitoes were our day and night roommates. These, among so many experiences in this first official apostolic experience revealed to me the message of this song and the task ahead.

About myself
I am from Ihiala in the Eastern part of Nigeria. My first name Obinna is an Igbo name, which comes from Obi, the heart and Nna or Chukwu, Father (Father here could mean your Dad or God), so my name means 'Heart of the Father'. My last name Ifeanyi when fully written should be Ifeanyichukwu. This means "nothing is impossible for God." As the first son and the third child of the five children (two boys and three girls) of my parents, I was seen as the successor to my father. It was presumed in my culture that every first son is the rightful owner of his father's wealth and once it was unthinkable and unimaginable for an heir become a catholic priest. Despite this many Igbo priests today are only sons and in some cases one of just two boys.

Initial zeal -Vocation
During my primary school days, I had two things in mind, to be a medical doctor or become a catholic priest. This young zeal in me was fueled by my being around the altar often as a altar boy. Even though this thought of catholic priesthood, the idea of being a medical practitioner was my preference. After a good primary school results which gives me the opportunity to study in one of the best government high schools. I felt the desired moment for me to realize my dream as a medical practitioner has arrived. To my greatest surprise, I found myself at the Holy Ghost Juniorate, through the assistance of one of my uncles who was a teacher in the school then. He felt I should benefit more from this great school and become a better person no matter the profession I embraced afterwards.

Moments of Decision
Within these six years of high school learning in this junior Spiritan seminary, I got to love the Spiritan life more deeply. Before my final examination in the high school, I walked into the chapel one afternoon and told God that I needed a sign to decide my future. I said to Him, "if you want me to be a priest, let me pass all my papers in a sitting, but if you feel I will be better with a secular profession, make me to fail some papers". What a funny prayer and challenge to God! Some months later when the results came out, I passed my papers. I immediately wrote an application to the vocation Director there and then. Being a past student of the Spiritan junior seminary I was immediately interviewed and given a prospectus for admission. When I got home, I told my parents what I have done, they asked me certain questions and kept quiet. Some days before I was to enroll as a senior seminarian, I remember being called up by my parents at the middle of the night. Still feeling asleep, I struggled my way to the parlour to answer the midnight call. When I came into the parlour and saw my Dad and Mum waiting for me, it dawned on me that the discussion was serious. They again asked me certain questions based on my decision to become a priest. At the end they even though I have chosen the priesthood, I should feel free to return home whenever I feel I can't make a good priest or whenever I am asked to leave.

Religious Life - Mission preparation
After my first religious profession (a day I will never forget), I went straight to the Spiritan School of Philosophy campus, Isienu-Nsukka, to begin my studies. After four years, I was sent to a Spiritan parish in Kogi State in the northern part of Nigeria, to do my pastoral experience. My experience there taught me that mission is not to be conceived primarily in geographical terms but as a crossing of cultural boundaries and a reaching out to groups of people. After an interesting and enriching year of fieldwork, I went back to continue my theological studies at the Spiritan International School of Theology, Attakwu-Enugu. Here I was introduced to another and an important aspect of Spiritan life; it's internationality. After my four years of studies in SIST, I felt intellectually enriched, physically prepared, psychologically established and spiritually inspired to the demands of mission.

First appointment
Within the last period of my formation, I got my first appointment letter, which read that I have been appointed to the Province of TransCanada. My first response was TransCanada! For what? I asked myself. How can a priest serve as a missionary in Canada? I consoled myself with what Greg Olikenyi CSSp, my professor on mission studies, used to tell us that mission is everywhere. Preparing myself for this mission after my ordination, I was sent to St. Michael's Parish Ezinifite in Nnewi Diocese, East Nigeria, as an associate pastor. I had already prepared to spend at least one year in the parish but I got my visa to Canada after just four months. Another side of the mission came to me when Fr. Val Nnaji, CSSp, a close friend died. His death in the Congo mission pushed me to the edge of this my song. Determined again, I made up my mind.

Climatic contrast
Having read about Canada on the web, I thought I prepared for the weather not knowing that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. As I was waiting for eight hours at the airport in Amsterdam, Holland, I felt the cold even though I was wearing a polo shirt, sweater and a suit. I never knew that the cold in Amsterdam was an ordinary breeze compared to what was waiting for me. When I arrived at Pearson Airport and responded to all the necessary checks at the immigration, I moved towards the exit route of the airport room and felt the as if I was thrown into a deep freezer. "What a climatic contrast! I said to myself, "Obinna this is really too far". Frs. David Okenyi and Edward Okorie, fellow Nigerian Spiritans who met me at the airport, gave me a jacket to add to the catalogue of clothes I had on me already. As we were driving "home", my new home, I was singing my song within me. On arrival, I was warmly welcomed by Frs. Pat Fitzpatrick, Provincial Superior, Gerry FitzGerald and Peter Fleming.

TransCanada - Neil McNeil
After some days of orientation, I was assigned to work with the Chaplaincy team in Neil McNeil, a school built by Spiritans. At first I asked myself whether school ministry is real mission, but I remembered also that our congregation was oriented towards the education ministry in the eighteenth century before becoming involved in overseas missions. I realized that the best approach to the young is to be with them, live with them, walk beside them, listen to them and share my faith with them. A few weeks ago I was in Nigeria and now am in Canada to work with the youth. I remembered the words of Libermann to European missionaries "strip yourself of Europe (Africa), its customs and its mentality. Become black (white) with them, leave them in their own way of being. Adapt yourself to the customs, mentality and habits of a people of God". But is this going to be easy? Experience will be my guide. Welcome to Canada!