REV. FR MICHAEL UCHENNA ODENIGBO

Birth

Rev. Fr Michael is the eldest of the five children of Mr Stephen, and Mrs Caroline Odenigbo of Ogor Village, Affa Town, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State. He was born on Friday, August 8, 1986 in Government General Hospital, Onitsha.

First Step outside the Family

The first journey of life outside the family house saw Michael in the church for his baptism barely a month after his birth on September 13, 1986 by Monsignor V.J. Madike at Christ the King Parish, Onitsha.

Early Education

The journey of life that takes a particular direction always unfolds in stages; so Michael began his academic life at Christ the King Nursery School, Onitsha. The primary school education started in Pioneer Primary School, Odoakpu Onitsha where he did his primary 1 class in 1992. He continued his primary 2 class at Woliwo Primary School, Onitsha from 1993 to 1998 where he got his First School Leaving Certificate. As a product of a Catholic family, engulfed with the zeal to serve the Lord and having completed his primary education, he took the entrance examination to St Paul’s Seminary, Ukpor. He was among the few that were taken. Michael was in Ukpor for his junior secondary education from 1999-2002 and was sent to All Hallows Seminary for his senior secondary education from 2002-2005. Having distinguished himself in different aspects of the formation, he was retained to assist in the formation of younger seminarians from 2005-2006.

Journey to the Priesthood-Paths through the Senior Seminary

On the expiration of the one-year junior apostolic work, he was sent to St Pius X Spiritual Year Seminary, Akwu-Ukwu for intensive training in spirituality from 2006-2007. In October 2007, he was sent to Pope John Paul II Major Seminary Awka for philosophical studies and in 2011 obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts respectively from Pontifical Urban University Rome and Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. After his philosophical studies, he was sent to All Hallows Seminary, Onitsha for the second time to work as a senior seminarian from 2011-2012.

      Upon recommendation to continue in the seminary, he was sent to Blessed Iwene Tansi Major Seminary, Onitsha for his theological studies, 2012-2016. Apart from his apostolic work twice in All Hallows Seminary, Onitsha, Michael had further canonical apprenticeship on his journey to the priesthood in: St Gregory Iyiowa Odekpe, 2007, St Joseph Parish Oraukwu, 2008, Holy Family Parish Nkpor, 2009, Regina Caeli Parish Umuoji, 2010, St William’s Parish Nkwelle Ezunaka, 2011, St Mary’s Parish Awada, 2013, Holy Family Parish Ukpor, 2014, and St John the Baptist Parish Affa, 2015.

The Ministry

Michael Uchenna Odenigbo was ordained Deacon on December 19, 2015 at the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, Onitsha. He was ordained a priest in this Basilica, on July 16, 2016 being the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The ordaining prelate was The Most Rev. Denis C. Isizoh who was then the Auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha Archdiocese.

      Father Michael has great attachment to the parish church of his parents, Christ the King Parish Onitsha. By Providence, he was baptized in that church, received the First Holy Communion in that church through Fr. Ernest Simple Okoli in 1996, received the Sacrament of Confirmation there through Archbishop Albert K. Obiefuna in 1997, and celebrated his First Holy Mass as a priest in that same church in 2016.

      Father Michael was assigned to these two parishes for relief duty for one month each: St Kevin Parish Nnobi, August 2016 and Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity, September 2016. The first permanent assignment given to him was to work at St Francis of Assisi Parish, Okpoko from 2016-2018. He worked as the assistant secretary to the Auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha, Most Rev. Denis C. Isizoh from 2018-2022. Secretary to the Auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha from 2022-2023. Secretary to the Bishop of Aguleri Diocese, 2023 to date.

Philosophy of Life

Father Michael believes that whatever is worth doing is worth doing well, no matter how long it may take to be achieved. He is very much drawn to music, reading, traveling, photography and teaching. He believes in friendship and can employ different dynamics just to get to people and win them over for good. He believes in the graciousness of God and appreciates gifts from God and his brothers and sisters. That was why the motto he chose for his priestly ordination reads: ‘But I, through the greatness of your love, have access to your house’ (Psalm 5:7).