I'm impressed. Fr Anthony Ekanem. Text is from the Holy Name of Mary bulletin
Get to Know Fr. Tony
Fr. Tony is the fourth of 8 children and the younger of a set of twins born to Columba L. Ekanem, a late Chief Inspection of Education and Brigid C. Ekanem, a schoolteacher. He was born on April 15 in Pennsylvania when his father was studying here.
His desire to become a Missionary priest after his Junior Seminary training was obvious when hedecided to forgo his admission to the University of Calabar, Nigeria to study medicine and instead continue his formation program at the National Missionary Seminary. He applied for admission into the Missionary Seminary of Saint Paul for priestly formation.
His formation began in 1980, which was followed by his philosophy studies in Iperu – Remo, OgunState, Nigeria. In 1984, he moved to Abuja to continue his study of theology moderated by the Pontifical Urban University of Rome. Fr. Tony was ordained a priest in Gwagwalada in Abuja, Nigeria, July 1, 1989.
He was appointed a Seminary Bursar after his ordination in Abuja. During his free time, he was involved in pastoral work in the nearby parishes. In October 1990, his first mission took him as far as Sierra Leone in Makeni Diocese, where he taught in a Secondary School and served as an assistant pastor in Theresa’s Catholic Church, Yonibana.
In October 1992, he came to the United States Mission and began his Orientation Program in Washington, DC under the Supervision of the Josephites in Baltimore. Later he was assigned as an associate pastor to St. Peter the Apostle Church in Houston. Two years later, he was assigned pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Port Arthur, Texas in the Beaumont Diocese. During this time, he studied and obtained his master’s at St. Thomas University of Houston, Texas in Pastoral Studies. After 3 years at Sacred Heart Church, he was transferred to St. Martin de Porres Church in Barrett Station, Texas, and served as pastor for over 10 years. While he was there, he became a member of the Knights of St. Peter Clever, 4th degree.
Fr. Tony also took a Chaplain course on Clinical Pastoral Education for four years at Herman Memorial and Methodist Hospital at Medical Center in Houston and obtained his doctorate degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling in 2017 from the Graduate Theological Foundation in Indiana.
In 2004, he was appointed Local Superior to the United States Missions, and in September 2007, he was elected to the Missionary Society of Saint Paul General Council, Abuja, Nigeria. He served as a Counselor in charge of Mission and priests’ welfare for six years. Fr Tony was appointed as pastor of St. Philip Neri Church in Houston, Texas on November 15, 2013.
In early January 2015, he left that position and was assigned to the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in June 2015. There he worked for 3 years and became a member of the Knights of Columbus, 4th degree.
In June 2018, he was transferred to The Church of Immaculate Conception – Saint Mary’s in Yonkers. On December 1, 2022, his religious group appointed him a Community Leader of Area Seven consisting of New York and Baltimore. On June 30, 2024, the 175-year-old Church was officially merged with Saint Denis–Saint Peters.
Finally, Fr. Tony was officially assigned on August 19, 2024, as administrator of the Church of the Holy Name of Mary, Croton on Hudson. On September 14, 2024, Fr. Tony will be installed as Pastor of this parish by the Most Reverend Bishop Edmund Whalen.
Comments