“Heroes of faith”: Cardinal Onaiyekan Wants Stories of Pioneer Nigerian Priests Rekindled

Cardinal John Onaiyekan called for the stories of Nigeria's first Catholic priests to be retold to prevent them from being lost to time. Speaking during a session on the priesthood in Nigeria on September 9, the Cardinal described these pioneer priests as heroes of faith who established a standard of dignity and respect for the Church.

During his presentation, titled The Shepherds Nigeria’s Church Needs, Onaiyekan noted that the Catholic priesthood in Nigeria has a glorious heritage and has experienced an impressive boom in vocations compared to other nations. He observed that the title Reverend Father remains a distinct identifier for Catholic priests among various religious leaders in the country.

The Cardinal's remarks were part of a session organized by the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the record of respect the priesthood enjoys while ensuring the history of the first men who answered the call to serve in West Africa is preserved.