Fr. Jerry Riney, Fr. John Okoro, and Bishop William F. Medley visit with the students of Divine Mercy School in Mbano in the Diocese of Okigwe in Imo State, and one of the religious sisters who teaches at the school, Sr. Loveline Eze of the Daughters of Divine Love. COURTESY OF FR. JOHN OKORO

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC

By the time he set off on his 16-day trip to Nigeria in October 2023, Bishop William F. Medley had become something of a pro at international pastoral visits.

And yet, these experiences never cease to move his heart and give him an opportunity for deep reflection upon returning home to the Diocese of Owensboro, Ky.

The bishop’s goal for his international trips is always the same: “To meet and thank the families of our priests, for sending them to serve our diocese,” in reference to the 27 priests serving western Kentucky who were not born in the United States.

These priests are the pastors of 29 of the 78 parishes in the Diocese of Owensboro. They come from countries like Mexico, Guatemala, India, and Myanmar (also known as Burma), as well as several countries within the continent of Africa.

(The Owensboro diocese currently has 80 priests – though this includes several retired priests and one priest, Fr. Uwem Enoh, who is serving as a military chaplain with the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.)

Bishop Medley began what he calls his “goodwill tours” in 2018. He was aware of the sacrifice of these priests’ families, most of whom never see their sons apart from when the priests can travel home for occasional visits.

He felt the need to say “thank-you” in person.

Bishop William F. Medley and Fr. Jerry Riney visit with the family of Fr. Jude Okeoma (third from left) during Bishop Medley’s pastoral visit to Nigeria. Fr. Okeoma is the pastor of Rosary Chapel in Paducah and St. Mary Parish in LaCenter. COURTESY OF FR. JOHN OKORO

Bishop Medley’s inaugural trip was to Mexico. Then, in early 2020 – the same year he celebrated his 10th anniversary as bishop of Owensboro – he visited India and Myanmar. It was while returning home from the latter trip that he saw people wearing masks in airports, and shortly after he made it back to Kentucky the world was overcome with the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic.

As the pandemic waned, the bishop was able to visit Guatemala in 2022. And following that successful visit, he considered Africa – keeping in mind that western Kentucky’s priests hail from countries as varied as Nigeria, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda.

He decided to visit Nigeria, which is home to five priests currently serving the Owensboro diocese: Fr. Emmanuel Udoh, Fr. Uwem Enoh, Fr. Julian Ibemere, Fr. John Okoro, and Fr. Jude Okeoma. Nigeria is also the home of the provincial house of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, two of whom currently minister in the Diocese of Owensboro (Sr. Anthonia Asayoma and Sr. Anne Maria Joshua).

Several of these priests were ordained for and belong to the Diocese of Owensboro, and others serve the diocese with permission of their bishops in Nigeria.

During Bishop Medley’s trip, which lasted from Oct. 9-24, he was accompanied by Fr. Udoh, as well as by Fr. Jerry Riney, an American priest of the diocese.

The bishop said that out of everything he saw and experienced, he was most impressed by the “celebration of the liturgies.”

He said that at all Masses he attended – from typical parish Masses to an ordination – “people were backed out the door for want of room” and it was normal for the liturgies to last several hours.

(Left to right) Fr. Emmanuel Udoh, Fr. John Okoro, Bishop William F. Medley, Fr. Jerry Riney, and Fr. Julian Ibemere visit Assumpta Cathedral in Owerri, Nigeria. COURTESY OF FR. JOHN OKORO

Bishop Medley said this is consistent with the data he has seen: according to the World Values Survey, between 2017-2022 Nigeria had the highest rate of Catholic Mass attendance among countries surveyed. The report stated that weekly or even more frequent Mass attendance among self-identified Catholics in Nigeria is at 94%.

The bishop was also impressed by “the vocations of both men and women. Our Nigerian sisters have to turn down as many as they accept,” he said.

Indeed, the Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae 2021 – which provides a global view of the pastoral action of the Catholic Church – showed that during that year, Africa had nearly 1,000 priestly ordinations.

“I marveled at the prolific vocations,” said Bishop Medley.

At the invitation of Bishop Camillus Raymond Umoh of the Diocese of Ikot Ekpene, Bishop Medley even presided at the ordination of three transitional deacons.

Fulfilling his original goal of the trip, Bishop Medley met with the families of the Nigerian priests ministering to the Owensboro diocese. All five of the priests were able to be present, having coordinated their schedules to be in Nigeria during the bishop’s visit (including Fr. Enoh, who received special permission from his military chaplain duties).

The bishop also visited Catholic Relief Services’ Nigerian headquarters.

“I’ve always been fascinated by their work, especially as a bishop,” he said. He said that in January, he had contacted CRS to see if he could meet with a representative during his visit.

They went to the CRS national office in Abuja and met the country representative, Akim K. Kikonda, whose role is like that of an executive director.

Bishop William F. Medley visits with the family of Fr. Julian Ibemere (seen fifth from right) during Bishop Medley’s pastoral visit to Nigeria. Fr. Ibemere is the pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Oak Grove. COURTESY OF FR. JOHN OKORO

“He took us to a vocational training graduation for 60 young adults,” said Bishop Medley, listing fish production, seamstress work, and design/digital communications as some of the tracks offered.

He learned that CRS in Nigeria has more than 400 employees, “many of whom are not Catholic.”

Throughout his visit, Bishop Medley said he never felt uneasy for his personal safety, despite news reports on violence in Nigeria ahead of his trip. Aid to the Church in Need, for instance, documented that in 2022 alone, 28 priests were kidnapped and four were murdered in Nigeria.

The bishop said his uneventful journey could have been because they spent most of their travels in regions not impacted by regular violence, and that he knew those traveling with him were vigilant about his safety in case any concerns were to arise.

The bishop said one of his most profound experiences in Nigeria was when he saw some wooden desks in a local school. Painted on the front of each desk was a message that said these desks had been donated by St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Paducah, Ky.

“Being 5,000 miles from home,” he said, “and yet seeing these hand-painted desks” made him proud of the people of his diocese, who, having benefited from the service of Nigerian priests, had in turn provided these gifts for the schoolchildren of Nigeria.

(Left to right) Fr. Emmanuel Udoh, Fr. Jerry Riney, Fr. John Okoro, Fr. Jude Okeoma, Bishop William F. Medley, and Fr. Julian Ibemere smiles for a photo in traditional Igbo Nigerian attire, during Bishop Medley’s visit to Nigeria. COURTESY OF FR. JOHN OKORO

Bishop William F. Medley visits with the family of Fr. John Okoro (seen fifth from right) during the bishop’s visit to Nigeria. Fr. Okoro is the pastor of St. Ambrose Parish in Morganfield, St. Francis Borgia Parish in Sturgis, and St. William of Vercelli Parish in Marion. COURTESY OF FR. JOHN OKORO