Nigeria is a dangerous country for Christians, and especially for priests. In the past 10 years over 150 priests were abducted and over a dozen murdered. And yet the number of vocations is not falling – on the contrary, it is even increasing – and there are many young men who desire to become a diocesan or religious priest.
One congregation that is blessed with numerous vocations is the Sons of Mary Mother of Mercy, a congregation founded in 1970 in Nigeria‘s Southeast. Currently, there are 76 young men actively studying for the priesthood in this congregation.
Two of them would like to tell you something about their vocation: Even as a child, Brother John Paul always wanted to help the poor and stand up for those who have no voice and cannot defend themselves. And so he decided to become a lawyer. And yet in the course of time the desire grew in him to become a priest instead. He explains, „The priest is so very important in bringing men to Christ and Christ to men. He is a spiritual father to thousands of the faithful. Priests are living witnesses to Christ, and I believe that the priesthood will give me the opportunity to devote myself totally to the service of God and of my people. In the seminary I want to continue to give the very best of myself, because I am preparing to serve Christ and his Church. I want to become a holy priest, who can lead the flock of Christ and shepherd them according to the will of God and the teaching of the Church.“
Brother John Bosco used to play at being a priest, even as a child, and used to pretend in childlike fashion to distribute communion by solemnly handing out biscuits to his brothers and sisters, his friends and neighbours. Over time the desire within him became deeper and matured. Finally, he made contact with the congregation of the Sons of Mary, Mother of Mercy. He recalls, „Their special charism of witnessing to the Mercy of God was a major factor in influencing my decision. Living a life bearing witness to Christ and his Mercy was for me the perfect way to live the kind of life I longed for. Their spirit and their practice of communal life inspired me still more, and they impressed me so much with their missionary activities, in aiming to evangelise every corner of the earth. That was exactly what I myself had always imagined for my life as a priest.“ And during the time he has already spent in the seminary, his zeal has grown only greater.
Brother John Paul, Brother John Bosco and their 74 fellow seminarians need your help and your prayers so they can continue their path to the priesthood. We have promised to support them once again for their training this year.
