Deacon Chinonso Nnebe-Agumadu: ‘If priesthood is what I am called to do, then God's got me’
Home parish: St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Charlotte
Birthplace: Washington, D.C.
Birthday: Oct. 24, 1995
Raised in: Charlotte, N.C.
Family: Parents - Samuel Nnebe-Agumadu (deceased) and Uche Nnebe-Agumadu; siblings - Arize, Ijeamaka, Munachi, Tobenna, Chukwuma
College: North Carolina A&T State University
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Biology
Pre-Theology: Pontifical College Josephinum, Columbus Ohio
Theology: Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio
Summer assignments in the diocese: St. Ann Church in Charlotte, Sacred Heart Church in Salisbury, St. Therese Church in Mooresville and St. Mark Church in Huntersville.
CNH: What are some of your interests/hobbies?
Deacon Nnebe-Agumadu: I like to read, play soccer, and bake.
CNH: Any comments to the people of the Diocese of Charlotte about becoming a transitional deacon here?
Deacon Nnebe-Agumadu: I am really excited about becoming a transitional deacon here in the Diocese of Charlotte. I recall my first day in seminary, when I recognized that this new journey would be different from any other thing I had done. So it is with becoming a transitional deacon. I am excited to make the different promises to the bishop, and also to proclaim the Gospel to the faithful people of this diocese who have been so kind and generous with me. It is a new way of life for sure, but I am happy with the formation and training I have received from this diocese to help me to be a good and faithful deacon.
CNH: When did you first hear the call to a vocation to the priesthood?
Deacon Nnebe-Agumadu: I believe the first time I considered a vocation to the priesthood was when I was in fourth grade, the same year I received my first Holy Communion. I think that was also the year I became an altar server, and I remember that I was always excited to see what the priest was doing at Mass.
It was however the summer before my senior year in high school that I had a profound experience that really got me to take the thought of being a priest more seriously.
CNH: Who did you first talk to about your vocation?
Deacon Nnebe-Agumadu: I talked to my parents and siblings first about my vocation. I also think I told everyone, if I am being honest. I can remember a lot of my extended family members calling me “Father Nonso” at such a young age. I probably told a couple of priests then, but I can’t remember what they told me then. Fast forward to senior year of high school when I really considered the vocation, I told Father Frank Cancro, who was my pastor at that time at Queen of the Apostles Parish in Belmont.
CNH: What type of feedback or advice did you get from them?
Deacon Nnebe-Agumadu: Overall I got positive feedback from all whom I informed. They prayed for me and encouraged me to spend time in prayer. My dad was the one who first encouraged me to spend time with Our Lord in Eucharistic Adoration.
I was pretty young when I told them I was considering a vocation, but their reaction was always supportive. My parents and siblings had the mindset of doing whatever they could to help me discern properly. When certain things did not work out, they would always encourage me to trust in God’s plan. Father Frank always encouraged me to develop a strong prayer life, and he was willing to put me in positions to be of service to the Church. He actually encouraged me to wait until I was finished with college before applying to seminary, and I am glad that he did, because there was a lot of maturing that took place for me in college.
CNH: How did you go about discerning where you felt called to explore your possible vocation?
Deacon Nnebe-Agumadu: I started to pray more, the rosary especially, and while I was in college, I started going to Mass more times during the week and spending more time in Eucharistic Adoration.
I originally was interested with discerning with the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), but it did not work out after I had a couple of phone calls with them. I had first considered them because of their influence in my dad’s life, and probably because they were the priests I had heard the most about. But after reflecting on my life, I realized that the priests who had influenced me the most were diocesan priests. So after some prayer and guidance, I thought it worthwhile to consider them. Providentially in the same year the plan with the Jesuits did not work out, Father Marcel Amadi became my campus minister in college, and he was of huge help to me then.
CNH: How and when did you reach out to the Vocations Office at the diocese?
Deacon Nnebe-Agumadu: I believe I reached out to the vocations office after attending Quo Vadis Days (a discernment camp in the diocese) in the summer of 2015. I have Father James Duong of St. Benedict Church to thank for introducing me to camp. After such a good experience at Quo Vadis Days, I contacted Father Christopher Gober (diocesan vocations director) to inform him that I was considering the priesthood.
CNH: Tell us about what you have been doing as part of your discernment process.
Deacon Nnebe-Agumadu: One of the things I have tried to do is a daily Holy Hour. Particularly, I always like to start my day with a Holy Hour, to sanctify the day. I consider Mary very influential in my vocation, so I like to say the rosary every day, and offer myself to her every morning and evening.
Spiritual reading has also been important for me. I like reading and meditating on the works of the saints, so that by their very example and wisdom, I may learn to grow closer to the Lord.
CNH: What advice do you have for a young man discerning a call to the priesthood?
Deacon Nnebe-Agumadu: Do not be afraid of the call! Do not run away from it! Do not be afraid to bring your worries and anxieties to God in prayer. Let Christ, Mary and the saints be your friends at this time. Go to Mass frequently, spend time with the Lord in Eucharistic Adoration, say the rosary and seek the saints’ intercession, particularly your confirmation saint. I was once told that “you don’t choose your confirmation saint, your confirmation saint chooses you.” This advice has helped me in my vocation and has drawn me closer to my confirmation saint, St. Ildephonsus. Never be afraid to empty yourself so as to make room for the will of God in your life.
CNH: What do you think has helped you the most to discern God’s will for your vocation?
Deacon Nnebe-Agumadu: Spiritual direction for sure. I am very thankful for the priests I have had as spiritual directors who have been there to guide and direct me especially in moments of difficulty.
Our Blessed Mother has also been a big help. She has brought me such joy and peace through praying the rosary and through her many intercessions. I also have her to thank for helping to draw me closer to St. Ildephonsus, whom I now constantly seek his intercession.
Another big thing has been fraternity with brother seminarians both in the diocese and in the different seminaries I have attended. The seminary was truly the first place I experienced such fraternity that encouraged me more towards my goal.
Most importantly has been the time spent with Our Lord in prayer and in silence. You just know that the journey is worth it, when you know that the Lord loves you.
Being able to experience His love, goodness, care and compassion every day in prayer and in Mass, just confirms to me that if priesthood is what I am called to do, then God’s got me, and that is really satisfying.
It has always seemed like a cliché to me when older folks would tell me, “Time flies much faster when you’re older.” And yet, how right they are!
This realization was brought home recently when I received a very gracious invitation from the Catholic News Herald to write a reflection on the priesthood as I celebrate my 30th anniversary of ordination this month. Thirty years! It certainly doesn’t seem possible, and yet, it’s here! In fact – and with a sense of humor and love that only God could have – this anniversary really did sneak up on me. (My thanks to the eagle eyes of my parish staff for making sure it didn’t go by unobserved.)
I guess you could say it’s easy to lose sight of dates on the calendar, as important as those milestones are, when your eyes and heart are focused on the Lord – my relationship with Him, as well as the day-to-day effort to live the faith as a parish family, with the myriad of experiences and encounters each day brings).
Thirty years ago, I was privileged to have been ordained and to offer my first Mass of Thanksgiving in New Jersey. In the intervening years, there have been changes in parish assignments, and even a change in state (goodbye, New Jersey!). Those years have seen tremendous joys, blessings, laughter and even some adventures along the way, along with a share of challenges, sorrows and loss. I have witnessed many changes in the world around us as we face new situations and challenges – both inside and outside the Church. Through it all, there has remained one constant: the Lord. I am tremendously thankful to Him and to all those who have sacrificed and prayed for me since that Ordination Day 30 years ago. Oremus pro invicem.
Father Eric Kowalski is pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Church in Mocksville.