Priest from Nigeria finds a temporary home in Ulysses

Father Evarestus Igwe, a Nigerian Vincentian priest of the Congregation of the Mission (CM), arrived last month in the Diocese of Dodge City, where he will serve briefly at Mary Queen of Peace Parish in Ulysses before beginning studies at St. John’s University in New York Aug. 30.

Father Igwe was born April 12 1967, and ordained July 27, 1997. He served in Nigeria as a novices director from 1997-1999, as Director of Students of Theology and Philosophy from 2000-2002, and pastor of a parish from 2002-2005.

Father Igwe also served in Germany as an associate pastor in 2005-2006. He arrived in the United States on March 29, and served as the associate pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in the Diocese of Lake Charles in Louisiana before coming to Ulysses.

Southwest Kansas Register: Where are you from in Nigeria?

Father Evarestus Igwe: From Uli, Anambra state, the southeastern part of Nigeria.

SKR: Do you have any brothers and sisters?

Father Igwe: I have two brothers and six sisters. All of them are married except the youngest one. My twin sister is a Dominican nun, Sister Caroline.

SKR: What do your parents do?

Father Igwe: Dad is an artist and painter. Mom is a business woman.

SKR: What brought you to Kansas?

Father Igwe: God and His loving relationship with His people brought me to Kansas. I belong to the Vincentian community, Congregation of the Mission (CM) Nigeria. I studied in Germany, and I am here to study anthropology in St. Johns University, New York,beginning Aug. 30. I came to help pastorally in the Dodge diocese by the trusting friendship between Fathers Robert, the Vicar General, and Father Ibe, MSSP.

SKR: Have you been to the United States before?

Father Igwe: Not until March this year.

SKR: How do you like it?

Father Igwe: It’s a very different world all together. I like it.

SKR: What are some of the cultural differences you’ve experienced, between the people here and the people in Nigeria?

Father Igwe: The people here have great respect for everyone. It is a secured society, and there is order.

SKR: What could the people here learn from the people in Nigeria?

Father Igwe: They should understand that all their potentials come from God. They don’t come from themselves. They could give God more respect and let God be the beginning and the end — the alpha and the omega.

St. Vincent DePaul founded the Congregation of the Mission in 1625 "to preach the Gospel to the poor and to reform the clergy."

According to the CM website, Vincentian "priests and brothers live together in community, and are involved in many works that carry on the tradition of St. Vincent. Vincentians serve the poor through our work in parishes and social service agencies. We train future priests, deacons and lay leaders for the Church and teach in universities. Vincentians preach parish missions throughout the United States; do outreach ministry with youth and young adults; and engage in works of direct evangelization."