Meet Fr. Ken: A Journey from Nigeria to Our Parish

For me, it is a great pleasure meeting you through this medium. I am Fr. Kenneth Ahanonu. You can also call me Fr. Ken or Fr. Kenny. I am excited to be in your midst to minister to you as a parochial vicar and to serve Christ with you. In the lines that follow, I will briefly present myself by telling you the story of my life.

I was born into a family of five kids – three boys and two girls – and I am the last of all. I was born and grew up at Ukpor, a town in the southeastern part of Nigeria. As it is customary in that part of the world, training for the priesthood consists of formation in minor and major seminaries. While the minor seminary is equivalent to mid and high school level, the major seminary is equivalent to the undergraduate level. Thus, my journey to priesthood began after my primary school education (grade six) on September 9, 1995, at St. Paul’s Seminary, Ukpor, and then All Hallows Seminary, Onitsha, for my minor seminary formation. After an apostolic year experience and a spiritual year formation, I proceeded to the major seminary.

The formation in the major seminary includes undergraduate studies in philosophy and theology, with a year of apostolic work experience in between the two. While my philosophical studies were at Pope John Paul II Major Seminary, Okpuno Awka, my theological studies were at Blessed Iwene Tansi Major Seminary, Onitsha.

I was ordained a priest on July 14, 2012. I served as a parochial vicar at St. Peter Claver’s Parish, Nnewichi Nnewi, for two years. I was then posted to my diocesan minor seminary as a father formator to help in the training of future priests. In 2017, my bishop sent me to Italy for mission and studies. While I ministered in the Diocese of Frascati, I undertook postgraduate studies and obtained a licentiate and Ph.D. in Philosophy from the Pontifical Salesian University, Rome.

From Italy, I arrived a few days ago at this beautiful parish with good people. It is a thing of great joy to be in your midst.