I was born to Menuba (Odinigwe) Madubuonwu Odili of Adegbe Umueri and Veronica (Nkechinyelu) Menuba, nee Okoye Nwambosi of Enugu-Ezunu, Aguleri in 1940. (Both are now deceased). I did my Elementary School studies partly in Umueri and partly at St. Charles School, Ikwen, in Akwa Ibom State, graduating in 1956, under the tutelage of my cousin, Mr. Cyril Nwalioba Onwuesi, who was the then Head Master of that school. After my elementary school studies, I went to Aba-Imo State to live with another cousin, late Hon. Fidelis Nzegwu Okoye and his family while working at J. Alien Motor Company from 1957-1960. When I decided to answer this call to the priesthood by entering the All Hallows seminary in 1961, it was both an emotional as well as psychological blow to my mother who was then only a “traditional believer” (not yet baptized) and who had reposed all her hopes for a better life on me. My father had died some twenty years back leaving my mother to raise five children by herself alone. As if this burden was not enough for her, her heart was again broken by the death of my immediate elder brother, Nwakacha Menuba, her first son, who was in his teens. Now her second son was leaving her to become a priest. 

You can imagine the emotional and psychological stress in her heart as well as the amount of opposition to my pursuing the priesthood coming from herself and from the neighbours, but in spite of all oppositions I was able, by the grace of God, to continue in my pursuit of the priesthood. Junior Seminary: In 1967, I passed the “London GCE Examination” with good grades in six subjects. Again, my mother had thought that I would leave the seminary after I got the GCE Certificate to help her in the family, but contrary to her expectation, I told her I was heading to the senior seminary at the onset of the Nigeria/Biafra war – another disappointment and devastating blow to her hopes. Senior Seminary: I did my philosophical and theological studies at the Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, from 1967-1974, entrusting my mother and my younger siblings to the care of the Lord Jesus who had invited me to follow Him-saying: “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead” (Matt: 8:22), I graduated from Bigard Seminary with Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and Theology and later in the U.S. Masters ‘in Philosophy and Theology. I was ordained a priest for the Catholic Archdiocese of Onitsha at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Onitsha, on April 20, 1974, by the then Archbishop of Onitsha, now Francis Cardinal Arinze. Pastoral Ministry in Nigeria (1974-2000). 

After my ordination, I served at the Sacred Heart Parish, Odoakpu, Onitsha, as a Parochial Vicar under the tutelage of late Rev. Fr Raphael Ozigbo, and subsequently as Parish Priest of the following parishes: St Michael’s Parish, Amakwa Ozubulu, serving the whole of Ozubulu and Ihembosi; St Michael’s Ezinifite and Akwaihedi (near Nnewi); St. John’s Oba Idemili, also serving Ojoto Obofia and Akwu-kwu; St Patrick’s Mbosi and Ubulu Isiuzo and lastly-St. Anthony’s-Ihembosi. 

Leadership Accomplishments: I was the first chairman of the Board of Education Committee, Umueri Technical School, Umueri. I was the Spiritual Leader who led five autonomous parishes and directed the flock spiritually by celebrating Sacraments for their spiritual nourishment and growth, made final decisions at Local and Parish Council Meetings and supervised the building of churches and parish halls. I built the Chapel of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration at St Anthony’s Ihembosi. I founded the ‘Ozubulu Social Center’ which has since grown into a full-fledged-secondary School, now re-named: Seat of Wisdom Secondary School, Ozubulu. I was the Onitsha Archdiocesan Spiritual Director/Chaplain of the “Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary from 1974-1990, and made the confraternity well known within the archdiocese and beyond. 

Ministry in America. I went to America in May of 2000 primarily on health basis with the approval of the late archbishop of Onitsha, Albert A.K. Obiefuna and later supported by his successor, archbishop Valerian Okeke. After I arrived in Rochester, NY, I was fortunate to secure the position of “Parochial Vicar” from the diocese of Rochester, at St. Ann Church, Horneti, where I served till June of 2004. In November of 2000, I had a major surgery, the removal of a tumor from my left adrenal gland. Thank God, it was benign. I had a job, I had health insurance, and it was done in America, otherwise, I would have died a long time ago. In October 2005, I switched over to Hospital Ministry after completing five units of Clinical Pastoral Education Program (CPE) and was hired at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center, Hartford, Connecticut, where I am currently working as a certified professional priest/chaplain. 

Gratitude: I lack sufficiently glowing words to express my ineffable gratitude and thanks to Almighty God for making me what I am today. In spite of my weaknesses, He chose and elevated me to the office of the catholic priesthood to serve in His vineyard-what a great privilege and honour? For who would have ever imagined that the son of Menuba (Odinigwe) Madubuonwu Odili, an illiterate native farmer, would ever ascend to the office of the Catholic priesthood if not for the special and gratuitous grace of God. For truly did Jesus Christ say “God chose the foolish of the world to shame the wise, and God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong,…” (ICor 1:27ff.) Thank you Jesus for this special favour to Menuba family, Umueri town, the Universal Church, my parents who brought me into this world, raised me, taught me the rudiments of civility and morality, and who allowed me to pursue this vocation to the priesthood in spite of all difficulties. My gratitude to my Archbishops, past and present; my brother priests; the Religious and the laity of the different parishes who had supported me in difficult times during these past decades in the Lord’s vineyard. May God bless and reward them most abundantly. I am eternally grateful to Ngozi and Peter Ezinkwo of Umueri, resident in Rochester, New York, who sent me a letter of invitation to travel to America-a million thanks to you, Ngozi and Peter, remain forever blessed. To all my friends and well-wishers, I say a very big “Thank You”. 

I also want to express my heart-felt thanks, gratitude and appreciation in a special way to the circle of committee of friends under the chairmanship of Chief Ben. Emeka (Chinwatakweaku) Nwa-afor-Umueri. The committee not only renovated my recently-purchased-empty house, but also financially hosted my 40th Priestly Anniversary, spending millions of Naira for both house-renovation and provision of food, drinks and assorted souvenirs. Without this total financial commitment of the committee, we would not be celebrating this occasion today. Please, join me in thanking the committee and praying to God to continue to bless and reward each member most abundantly for this rare charity done to His poor and unworthy servant-Elias Menuba. My prayer is that God fulfill in them what He said in the Bible regarding rewards: ‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward’ (Matt. 10:42.). You have given me, a disciple of Christ, not just a cup of cold water, but more than a ‘spring-well of water’. You have spent your time, money, talent, you have even done physical manual labour in preparation for this occasion. May the good Lord bless, protect, guide and reward you most abundantly with everything necessary for comfortable life in this world, and in the next-eternal happiness in His heavenly kingdom. Thank you-Thank you, Thank you, Dalu nu. Deme nu. Deje nu. Ka ife unu melu m delu jebe. ,