My name is Kingsley Nwoko, I am excited to be here at St. Theresa. I am looking forward to serving you at Mass and learning from the community. I was born in Ahiara, Imo State in Eastern Nigeria. The youngest of six children. I grew up with my parents in my home town, where my academic and spiritual formation started. After my college graduation, I moved to Italy and later to Germany for other studies in theology and psychology. Before becoming a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, I attended other seminaries for priestly formation in Nigeria and Italy respectively.
My vocation is a journey. It started at the Block Rosary. The Block Rosary was perhaps the most impactful experience of my childhood. In Ahiara, a predominantly Catholic community, every enclave had a Block Rosary at the end of almost each street for moral instruction, prayers and catechism classes. I was privileged to have one located at the entrance to my father’s compound. I was always there at 4.00pm everyday with my siblings to start the rosary. I recall that three children usually led prayers. Two girls and a boy were usually selected in the LucyJacinta-Francis model of Fatima. I was often selected to be the Francis of the group as I could recite the whole rosary and litany in both Igbo and English languages at an early age. It was at Block Rosary and while serving at mass that I first had the feeling that God may be calling me to priesthood. This feeling was nurtured and grew over the years.
Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria (CCRN) is important of mentioning as also impactful for my spiritual growth and courage to answer God’s call. At the CCRN, like Moses at the “burning bush,” I saw myself stripped of everything except the unconditional love of God. CCRN experience was an open door for my discernment to priesthood. I wanted to be a medical doctor, but at this stage, God showered me with the grace to say “YES” to His Divine Project for my life.
My theological and psychological studies focus on how to support couples and families especially at the early stage of their marriages and during the unavoidable period of conflicts.
Favorite Scripture: Isaiah 42:6 “I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles.”
