The Journey of Fr. Jude Nkem Anyaegbu

by Welsh Richards

In this article we travel to the far away village of Amizi in Ikwuano of Abia State in Nigeria, where a young boy named Jude Nkem Anyaegbu lived with his parents, Sunday and Veronica Anyaegbu and seven siblings. He was the fourth child of his parents and lived the life of a normal village boy. Serving as an altar boy in his parish church, he had fancied himself wearing the robes and participating in the Mass just as his parish priest did, childhood dreams with which many of us can identify.

Jude attended Amizi-Oloko Community School and proceeded to Ikwuano Secondary School in Ariam for his secondary school education. But when he later moved to St. Luke’s Grammar School in Bariga in Lagos to complete his education, his dream of becoming a priest faded, as other interests of a village boy catapulted into the realms of big city life, began to take root.

It was while he was finalizing his documents for admission into university to read for a law degree that he was seized by his childhood dreams and desire to become a Catholic priest. This time it came with unerring power and clarity.

In 1994, Jude entered the Redemptorists’ Formation Programme and successfully completed his Pre-Noviate and Novitiate years and professed the simple vows on July 20, 1996. He later entered the Dominican Institute of Philosophy and Theology, an affiliate institute of the University of Ibadan, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy. He returned to the Dominican Institute one year later to complete a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology after completing his practical pastoral experience.

Rev. Jude professed the final vows on October 1, 2002 and was ordained a Deacon on June 8, 2003 by His Lordship Bishop J. B. Adelakun, Bishop of Oyo Diocese and was ordained a priest on July 3, 2004. by Archbishop Felix Alaba Job.

Today the communities of Massacre, Mahaut and Belfast are blessed with the services of Fr Jude. His typical day begins with Holy Mass at 6.00 am followed by Morning Prayer. He next proceeds to the office at the presbytery, where he meets parishioners, attends meetings and engages in administrative work.

Fr Jude is an avid enthusiast of nature and can be seen taking his usual walks, moonlight drives or just admiring the beauty of the countryside. In his own words, he is a “nature person”. He does frequent exercises and workouts and continue to practice his martial art taekwando. He is just below the level of a black belt, so beware!

His most challenging and trying times include the burial of both mother and son, victims of Hurricane Dean and when he had to travel to the United States for the funeral of his twenty-three year old niece.

He is overwhelmed by the richness and depth of the Catholic faith and pointed out very succinctly that even with the scandals that have rocked and continue to rock the Church it continues to survive. This, he suggests can only be the work of the Founder of the Church, Jesus Christ, whose promise is, “…..the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail over it…..” and “….I am with you till the end of time…”

One of his favourite passages of Scripture is Acts of the Apostles Ch. 20 vs. 24:”But I reckon my own life to be worth nothing to me; I only want to complete my mission and finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do, which is to declare the Good News, about the grace of God”. This passage keeps him focused and serves as his guide in ministry. Such is his dedication.