I wanted my son to study Medicine but he chose Priesthood, says Ezinna Mike Onyele

Sunday, September 24^th, 2023, was the Ordination Thanksgiving Mass of Reverend Callistus Ifeanyi Onyele; it was his first mass after his ordination on Thursday, September 21^st, 2023.

Of course, the crème de la crème in both Catholic churches of Osina Town where the young priest hailed from and St Mary’s Catholic Parish Isolo where he worships; attended the thanksgiving in their numbers.

However, the highpoint of the Thanksgiving ceremony was the donation of a brand new jeep to the Reverend, by St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Isolo, this was to enable him move around in his work of evangelism. No wonder Father Callistus dropped tears of joy as he was handed key and documents of the vehicle.

Ezinna Mike Onyele while narrating how it all started revealed to the media, that his desire was to see his son study Medicine, but he rather made up his mind to train as a priest. “First of all, I thank the almighty God, because it all started like a joke. I am happy and members of my entire family are happy and I have seen how happy the entire community of St Mary’s Isolo, and St Mary’s Osina are; and Osina in general, they are all here today. If you can read the mind of people, read the minds of the people here, that is exactly how my mind is as well. I am elated, I am over joyed by what I am seeing today, because when this whole thing started, I didn’t know it would come to pass, but since Thursday when he was ordained, that summarized the success story, so I thank God almighty, I also thank my beloved people, the people of Osina, brothers, friends and well -wishers, all those that attended this Thanksgiving today, I  appreciate all of you, and my prayer is for God to also bless them in Jesus name.”

Ezinna Onyele also advised parents not to pressurize their children to become priest, and he gave his reasons. “They should not be pressurized. I am saying it because of how my son started his journey to priesthood. When I sent him to a mission school in Osun State, it was for him to be inculcated with Christian life, to know God so that when he comes out he would live in fear and respect of God.  I was too surprised when he came back after secondary school, I asked him to go and buy JAMB form, each time I said that he would not act upon what said.

“One thing about this my son is that he is exceptionally intelligent academically so much so that when he was in primary school, he was made to jump classes several times by his teachers. When he finished secondary school he came out with very good result. So my wife and I have concluded that he should go and study Medicine, but he was reluctant. He told us at a point that he wants to continue with missionary school, I said when did you discuss that? He said he has decided. I asked him if he was being forced by anybody anywhere, he responded no, I said okay, since nobody forced you and you made the decision by yourself, I cannot be obstacle between you and God, so go ahead.

“That is why when I started talking I said; it was just like a joke, but today he has succeeded, so he made the choice by himself. Therefore, what I am saying in effect is, if you ask your child to go for priesthood, if he says no, leave him, because there is nothing better than a decision you take by yourself than when you are forced. It is even worse because he may go there and because it is not his decision, he may commit one crime or the other and he would be expelled which might even bring disgrace to the family. So it is better he didn’t make attempt than stopping midway,” Ezinna Onyele advised.

He prayed for his son. “My prayer for my son is for God, who made today possible, people have testified of his integrity, humility and resourcefulness, I pray that God will assist him, show him the way. God that made it possible for him to be ordained a priest, He will also support him, guide him to realize all his heart’s desire. My prayer is that God will guide and protect him always, be in his front and at his back, since he has decided to win souls for Christ, God will help him in order to realize this objective in the Lord’s vineyard, in Jesus name, amen.”

Ezinne Eucharia Nkiruka Onyele is the mother of the ordained priest, in confirming what her husband said earlier, added that God does what is impossible with man. She said she sent her son, Callistus to school to be trained in humility and Christian life at Our Lady of Fatima, Osun State, a mission school, but he chose to be a priest. “My joy is that since he started school he has never been sent home for indiscipline rather he won laurels and he was always made the prefect.  When he completed his secondary education I asked him to buy JAMB form and apply to UNILAG for Medicine, but he declined. It was at this point he opened up that he wanted to be a priest. At a point I reminded him that priests don’t get married, they don’t have share in the father’s inheritance, he said he knows and that is it. He bought the form by himself and showed us his admission letter. What later encouraged us is that his results were always very very excellent. Based on his choice we started praying and he would always ask us to put him in prayers. And on 21^st of September he was ordained a Reverend Father alongside other 10 priests by the Archbishop of Lagos, His Grace, Most Reverend (Dr) Alfred Adewale Martins. I know since I born him he is a different person entirely.”

She prayed for his son “My prayer for him is for God to give him encouragement, give him wisdom and knowledge, since it is God’s desire that he would be a Priest, God will be with him so that he will not be corrupted by anybody because he has decided to follow God in truth and spirit.”