Reverend Mr. Bernard O. Ekeagwu To Be Ordained To The Priesthood By Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez
The Ordination Mass will be streamed live at https://www.scs.edu/, Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/ArchbishopPerez/ and https://www.facebook.com/StCharlesSem/
The Reverend Mr. Bernard O. Ekeagwu, 30, son of Sir Patrick C. Ekeagwu and Lady Esther N. Ekeagwu, will be ordained to the Priesthood by Most Reverend Nelson J. Pérez, D.D., Archbishop of Philadelphia.
Saturday, May 18, 2024
10:00 a.m.
Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul
18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Deacon Ekeagwu is a member of Saint Colman Parish in Ardmore (Montgomery County). He moved to the United States from Emekuku, Imo State, Nigeria in 2018. He entered the program of priestly formation at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in 2019 following a year of studies at Villanova University. Deacon Ekeagwu one of eight children. He has been serving as a Transitional Deacon at Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish in North Wales (Montgomery) for the past year in final preparation for Ordination to the Priesthood.
Father Ekeagwu will celebrate his First Solemn Mass of Thanksgiving on
Sunday, May 19, 2023
3:00 p.m.
Saint Colman Catholic Church
11 Simpson Road
Ardmore, PA 19003
Reverend John J. Large, Senior Priest of Saint Anselm Parish (Philadelphia), will concelebrate the Mass and preach the homily. The other main concelebrants include Reverend Monsignor John T. Conway, Pastor of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish (North Wales); Reverend Monsignor Gregory J. Fairbanks, Dean of the School of the Diaconal Formation at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary (Overbrook); Reverend Monsignor Joseph G. Prior, Pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish (Penndel), and Reverend John J. Ames, Pastor of Saint Coleman Parish (Ardmore).
Additional concelebrants include Reverend Monsignor Federico A. Britto, Parochial Administrator of Saint Cyprian Parish (Philadelphia); Reverend Jason E. Buck, Dean of Men, College Division at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary (Overbrook); Reverend Thomas A. Nasta, Pastor Emeritus of Sacred Heart Parish (Swedesburg); Reverend Addisalem T. Mekonnen, Pastor of Saint Martin de Porres Parish (Philadelphia); Reverend Anthony T. Rossi, Pastor of Saint Agnes Parish (Sellersville); Reverend Mark A. Tobin, Parochial Vicar of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish (North Wales); and Reverend Charles Zlock, Pastor of Saint Raymond of Peñafort Parish (Philadelphia).
CatholicPhilly, the official digital news agency of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, recently published a profile on Deacon Ekeagwu. To read his profile, “Former Nigerian Tennis Champion Realizes Priestly Vocation in U.S.” please click here.
There are three men from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in the Ordination Class of 2024. Following the conclusion of Mass with the Rite of Ordination, they will be assigned to an Archdiocesan parish where they will serve as parochial vicars. A parochial vicar is a priest appointed by the Archbishop to assist the pastor of a parish in his duties to tend to the pastoral and temporal needs of those entrusted to his care.
Thanks to the generous support of the Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia, the Mass will be streamed live via the Archdiocesan Vimeo Channel (https://vimeo.com/event/2470138); Archbishop Pérez’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ArchbishopPerez/); Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary’s website (https://www.scs.edu/); and Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/StCharlesSem/); beginning at 10:00 a.m.
# # #
Editor’s Note: If you would like to receive a photograph of Deacon Ekeagwu, please contact the Office for Communications at 215-587-3747 or email [email protected].
Background on Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary
Founded in 1832, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary has been forming men for priestly service in the Catholic Church for more than 191 years. With a current enrollment of 143 seminarians, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary is one of the largest seminaries in the country. In this very historic year, the seminary is preparing to relocate to Lower Gwynedd Township. Its new campus includes the construction of several new chapels, a college seminary dorm building, and a student life center which will consist of a refectory, classrooms, library, and administrative offices. Its inauguration is scheduled for August 2024. For more information on Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, call 610-667-3394 or visit www.scs.edu, Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Instagram or YouTube.
About the Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia
The Catholic Foundation of Greater Philadelphia (CFGP) is an independent, nonprofit community foundation committed to growing philanthropy according to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Grounded in the principles of faith and service, CFGP meets the diverse needs of donors and Catholic institutions through charitable fund management and development consulting. Our services ensure an investment in the future of our faith. To learn more about CFGP, please visit https://thecfgp.org/.
Archdiocese of Philadelphia
ArchPhilly
ArchPhilly
Contact:
Kenneth A. Gavin
Chief Communications Officer
215-587-3747 (office)