Fr Ebuka Mbanude
I was born and raised in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. My parents, Edwin and Regina, made the house a home for all seven of their children and for the many aunts, uncles and cousins that lived with us at different times. I attended private school for my primary education and later, I attended Christ the King College, a Catholic secondary school founded by Irish missionaries in Nigeria. The seed for spiritual life was planted by my parents, at home, with daily family morning prayer and evening prayer. I learned to pray and read the scriptures from my parents.
In 2007, I immigrated to the United States and settled in DC with my relative. I held different jobs in the city at Target store, DC Department of Parks and Recreation and other internship positions. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from The University of the District of Columbia in Spring 2013.
In Fall 2013, I was admitted to the priestly formation program of the Archdiocese of Washington. I completed two years of pre-theology program at St. John Paul II seminary and was sent to Mount St. Mary’s Seminary Emmitsburg for four years of formation and theological studies. I was ordained a priest of Jesus Christ on June 15, 2019, by Archbishop Wilton Gregory, and served as a parochial vicar at Holy Redeemer parish in Kensington, MD (2019-2022), and currently serving as a parochial vicar at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Landover Hills, MD.
Africa has always been on my mind ever since I left home, for to me ‘home is home’. I love the United States, but I also love my country Nigeria and Africa as a whole. I long to see Africa rise from the ashes of colonialism to self-actualization; to see an Africa that is food secure, economically robust, internally peaceful and safe, and globally relevant, not relying on foreign aid but aiding foreign nations to stand on their feet. With all its natural wonders and beauty, I long to see an Africa that is not just a tourist destination, but a place where people migrate to leave and settle down.
