author's

biography

Very Reverend Father Professor Obah Patrick Chukwukelue
(Title Name Ezenwata)
Professor of Law, Global Affairs-governance , International Relations, politics , International Law, Public International Humanitarian Law , foreign policy, Diplomacy, Scholar, Researcher, Priest, Pastor, and Preacher.
  • Occupation:
  • Board of Director(Pathway To Trust Agency)
  • US Department of Homeland Security - Cadre- Public Assistance.
  • NYC Department of Social Services-HRA- Associate Admin and Social Welfare.
  • Serve on the Board of Directors and as an Advocate at Pathway To Trust, a non-profit organization.
  • Priestly Ministry- Hospital Chaplain.
  • Duties:
  • Patient Advocate: Work directly with patients and families to navigate healthcare systems, access resources, and advocate for needs.
  • Rare Disease Organization Professional: Work for organizations like the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) or the Rare Disease United Foundation (RDUF) to advocate for rare disease communities.
  • Healthcare Professional: Work with nurses, doctors, or social workers to care for patients with rare diseases and understand their unique needs.
  • Researcher: Conduct research on rare diseases to advance understanding and treatment options.

The story of my life and vocation is one marked by faith, perseverance,  Mass, and the warmth of a community bound together by faith. Church was not simply a weekly duty; it was a sacred space that gave meaning to everything I did. At the age of five or six, when children are only beginning to discover the world, I had already begun to sense that my life would be lived in service to God.

My parents were the first witnesses of faith in my life. They never forced or pressured me toward the priesthood, but they nurtured the flame of vocation by their example of devotion. My father often spoke with deep admiration about the priests who gave their lives to serve others, and in his words I found encouragement. He carried a quiet hope that one of his children might one day answer God’s call in that way. My mother, steadfast and prayerful, supported that seed of faith with her own witness of love and patience. Their home was my first seminary, their example my first catechism.

As a child, I was curious, restless to learn and eager to belong. I found my place in the life of the Church by joining societies and eventually serving as an altar server. Standing at the altar gave me a sense of closeness to the mystery of God that I could not find anywhere else. Each Mass was not only a ritual but an invitation into something deeper. The priests I served alongside fascinated me—not because of their authority, but because of their humility and dedication. I would ask them endless questions, not content with knowing what they did, but longing to understand why they did it. The seminarians, too, inspired me; they were young men still discerning, but their courage to pursue the priesthood stirred in me a dream to one day walk the same path.

By the time I finished elementary school, I was certain that I wanted to enter a minor seminary. Yet reality reminded me that vocation is often tested by obstacles. The cost of seminary was far beyond what my family could afford. Though my father desired to see me pursue that path, he could not provide the means. For a time, disappointment weighed heavily on me, and I wondered if perhaps my calling was only a dream. But God’s timing is never ours, and His ways often reveal themselves through detours. A priest friend of the family advised me to attend government high school first. It was not the seminary I longed for, but it was the path God laid before me.
In high school, I carried with me a quiet determination that this was only a stepping stone. My studies in history, science, and mathematics broadened my mind, but my service in the Church continued to shape my heart. I never stopped asking questions of priests, never stopped volunteering, never stopped nurturing the flame of vocation. When I graduated, the desire to enter seminary remained strong, and I finally found an opportunity. I entered a religious institute in Nigeria from 2002 to 2004, where I began the rigorous training of prayer, study, and community life that prepares men for the priesthood.
My journey did not remain confined to Nigeria. God led me across borders into new cultures and languages, each step shaping me further. Before entering seminary in Congo Brazzaville, I was sent to Gabon to learn French. Immersing myself in a new language and culture was challenging, but it broadened my vision and strengthened my perseverance. Once prepared, I entered the Catholic major seminary in Congo, where I studied philosophy from 2004 to 2007. Those years were formative not only intellectually but spiritually, teaching me that vocation is not merely an ambition but a lifelong surrender to God’s will.
Returning to Nigeria, I carried with me the lessons of discipline, sacrifice, and trust in providence. Yet my journey was still not complete. God was calling me beyond Africa to the United States. Leaving behind family, friends, and familiar culture was a sacrifice, but my father’s words echoed in my heart: if God has placed this call upon you, He will also provide the way. I studied in seminaries in New York and Connecticut, eventually completing a Master of Arts in Theology with a concentration in Pastoral Theology at St. Elizabeth University in New Jersey. Immigration difficulties and other challenges tested my patience, but they only reminded me that vocation is not about ease, but about faithfulness.
In 2019, I was ordained a deacon, and in 2020, a priest of the Roman Catholic Church. That sacred day was the culmination of years of prayer, study, and sacrifice—but more importantly, it was the beginning of my lifelong mission. My ministry began in parishes within the Archdiocese of New York, including St. Anthony’s in the Bronx and the Church of Notre Dame in Harlem. These communities, diverse and vibrant, became my teachers. They showed me that priesthood is not confined to the pulpit but lived in the daily acts of compassion, solidarity, and presence.

My mission has always been guided by the conviction that the Gospel must be preached in both word and deed. Whether serving French-speaking communities in Harlem, ministering to the sick in hospitals, or supporting the marginalized, I have sought to embody Christ’s command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” Service abroad also deepened this conviction. In Russia, during 2008 and 2009, I volunteered in hospitals, tending to the lonely and forgotten with simple acts of love—feeding, bathing, and consoling them. In their suffering, I saw the face of Christ and understood more deeply what it means to be a priest.

Looking back, I see how every stage—childhood curiosity, financial struggles, cultural transitions, academic study, and pastoral ministry—was part of God’s plan. Seminary shaped my mind, but service shaped my heart. Ordination confirmed my vocation, but daily charity gives it life. My story is not one of ease, but of God’s faithfulness, reminding me that vocation is not a fleeting childhood dream but a lifelong response to God’s call.
Today, as I continue in my priestly ministry, I remain grateful for every trial, every obstacle, and every grace along the way. Each chapter of my life has prepared me for the mission I now embrace: to preach the Gospel with authenticity, to stand with the poor, to console the suffering, and to guide all people toward the love of God. My journey has taught me that what matters most is not how smooth the road may be, but how faithful we remain to the One who calls us.