Steve and Susan Brock: Father Christopher Brock’s parents
We noticed Christopher’s calling when he was a very young child. When he was 2 or 3, he had a white plastic cookie he would keep in his pocket. Christopher called it his “Body of Christ.” One day he offered it to a neighbor. In addition, he has always said he wanted to become a priest. The various talents – intelligence, personality, willingness to serve, sacrificial spirit – that God gifted him with were all compatible with that desire.
The most important thing we did to nurture his faith besides living a Catholic family life, was that we homeschooled him. Keeping our kids out of the mainstream culture influences, and focusing their studies based on traditional Catholic teaching, has been a lifeline to keeping our kids rooted in the faith.
As a family, we prayed the rosary and attended daily Mass, assisted with the needs of the Church. There was no television. We looked for opportunities to share our faith with those of other religions. We made an effort to live our Catholic faith with 100 percent fidelity. This included standing up for what we believe and boycotting companies that support immorality even if that meant our lives would be more difficult. We didn’t put a lot of value in material things, and we focused on helping those in need.
In the days leading up to his ordination, our thoughts have been centered in gratitude as we see our son answering God’s call. The path Christopher has chosen will be challenging because the devil tries harder to win over those who have chosen to follow Christ more closely. However, it is comforting knowing that he has chosen to focus his life on heavenly things and will be surrounded by Christ’s grace in his efforts to be holy.
We are in awe and find it difficult to put into words our thoughts and feelings as our son becomes an “alter Christus.” We hope that anyone who reads this will say a prayer for him.
Uche Nnebe-Agumadu: Father Chinonso Nnebe-Agumadu’s mother
I was not aware of Chinonso’s call to the priesthood until he was in college, when he occasionally he would talk about it.
While in high school, he was an altar server at Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont. On one occasion, an unknown elderly woman walked up to the music director and told her about Chinonso’s intended call to the priesthood. She said she saw a light halo on his head throughout the Mass which, according to her, is a sign of priesthood.
I believe strongly in family stability as a foundation for spiritual and self-development. I worked hard to have a stable, loving and supportive family that was a home for all in our African context. We, the parents, tried to make our Christianity as practical as possible through everyday charitable deeds and commitment to our
Catholic values. Praying together as a family was paramount.
Chinonso’s dad was an ardent devotee to Our Lady and the rosary as well as the Precious Blood devotions, and we all joined him on this path. Chinonso and his siblings grew up saying a daily rosary, sometimes reluctantly. I was often a part of this reluctance!
The rosary, nonetheless, remains my favorite personal devotion which I do at my own time, and together with the Divine Mercy Chaplet, I offer prayers for Chinonso.
As his ordination neared, I had mixed feelings of joy, gratitude, and occasional sadness. Sometimes, I feel like I am losing him to the Church. I am also conscious of the fact that his dad, who supported him so much on this journey, will not be there to witness his ordination.
My predominant state of mind is, nevertheless, joyful.
I am proud of his determination and resilience and his willingness to push on even when his twin brother didn’t want to join him in the seminary. I pray for him to remain joyful and be at peace as we walk toward his ordination.
William and Deborah Rusciolelli: Father Peter Rusciolelli’s parents
As a child, Peter and his brothers and sisters would “play Mass,” and he would often be the priest. Later as a teenager and as an altar server, Peter eagerly volunteered to serve Mass as often as possible.
Not only was he very serious about his responsibilities but he also carefully observed and absorbed the roles and responsibilities of the priest, the deacons and the parts of the Mass.
Looking back, putting importance on family unity may have been a big influence on his vocation. As a family, we did our best to attend Mass together and have daily prayer time and dinners together. We would discuss our faith and try to recognize how our beliefs are demonstrated in our day-to-day activities.
As we approached ordination day, we reflected on how very proud we are of his hard work and devotion over the past seven years to his studies in seminary and his faith.
We don’t know where God will lead him in this vocation, but for now, we are excited that he has finally made it to where his heart has been leading him: to be consecrated for the Lord.
Called to love Jesus with all his heart
STATESVILLE — Applause greeted Father Bernard Oleru Thursday night as he was officially installed as pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Parish.
Nearly 400 people attended the special Mass to welcome their new pastor. The Mass also included priests from Father Oleru’s order, the Missionary Society of St. Paul of Nigeria, as well as Diocese of Charlotte clergy.
Born in Nigeria, Father Oleru was ordained in 2007 and comes from a large Catholic family of nine. Bishop Peter Jugis assigned him to the new role effective July 11, succeeding Father Thomas Kessler, who has moved to St. Matthew Parish in Charlotte.
Father Kessler, who was pastor of the parish for many years, also received thankful applause from the congregation. At the start of the Mass, he and Father John Eckert, who serves as head (vicar forane) of the Salisbury vicariate and represented the bishop, witnessed Father Oleru make his Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity and sign the documents officially naming him pastor. Also there as witness was Father Mark Lawlor, the pastor at Father Oleru’s previous assignment, St. Therese Parish in Mooresville.
As part of the installation rite, Father Eckert took the new pastor to key parts of the church building – the baptismal font, confessional, presider’s chair and tabernacle – stressing the importance of each in Father Oleru’s pastoral ministry.
In his homily, Father Eckert emphasized the burning love that Jesus has for each of us and called on the congregation to return that love – noting that this is the way Jesus set up the relationship from the very beginning when He sent out His apostles to continue His ministry. This included St. Philip, patron of the 122-year-old Statesville parish.
“He sends out real, fallen men to bring about that ministry. He sends out those who are called to be in love with Him,” Father Eckert said. Just as Jesus loves us with all His heart, so too “your new priest, your new pastor, Father Bernard, is called to love Jesus with all his heart.”
He encouraged Father Oleru to remember St. Peter’s three-fold affirmation of love to Our Lord after his triple denial – and Jesus’ response to feed His sheep.
Go each day to the Lord and listen as Jesus asks, “Do you love me?” Father Eckert said. “Respond from the depths of your heart every day and say, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ And then as you do that, feed your sheep.”
The Missionary Society of St. Paul of Nigeria, founded in 1976, has been active in the Charlotte diocese since 2012. Father Oleru is one of three priests from the order currently ministering here.
Parishioner Fred Myers and his wife said the close proximity of Father Oleru’s former parish in Mooresville meant they were already familiar with their new pastor.
“We have been down to several of Father Bernard’s Masses, and he’s highly regarded in both parishes,” Myers said. “We're lucky to have him.”
Overcome with emotion at the conclusion of Mass, Father Oleru said he only had one thing to say to his new parishioners: “I love you.”
Afterward, he added, “I feel so happy taking on the role as the pastor of St. Philip. I know a lot has been entrusted to me, a lot has been given to me by the Church and God. It is now my duty and my role to make sure that I lead the people of God to the kingdom of heaven.”
He said he will rely on the grace of God and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in his new ministry.
“It is not something that I can do alone,” he said. “I am excited now, but I see great work in the future, and it’s only God who can lead me on, so I call on the faithful of the parish and the faithful in the Diocese of Charlotte to always pray for us, and I hope to get there with the People of God.”
— Annie Ferguson. Photos by Troy Hull
Related story: How shifting priest assignments foster growth in our diocese
