Shortly after having been ordained into the priesthood in 2000, Fr. Chibuike “Chi” Ojilere, CSSp, a Nigerian-born Spiritan missionary was assigned to far away Digkilaan, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte. There he served as parish priest at Our Lady of Fatima Parish for 10 years.
In 2007, through the help of the St. James COPA Foundation, he was assigned to St. James Parish for a few months, and has since become a frequent visitor. He is here again for a short visit.
“Marami akong kaibigan dito.. Parang pamilya na,” says Father Chi fondly in fluent Filipino, a language he learned to speak and understand while assigned in Iligan. He speaks Bisaya fluently as well.
Fr. Chi easily makes a lasting impression on Filipinos he meets not only because he comfortably speaks in our mother tongue, but also because of his unique vocation story.
As a child growing up in football-crazy Nigeria, Fr. Chi started playing the sport at age 4. Through sheer desire and ability, he secured a spot in every team he tried out for – from his grammar school days all the way until he made it to the national team! However, while enjoying the limelight as a national team player, he surprised his many fans when he said goodbye to football to join the priesthood. “My motivation (kahit nung) bata pa ako ..meron na akong passion to help the needy.” And he saw no better way to pursue this passion than by becoming a Catholic missionary priest.
It is this passion to help the less fortunate that he shares with COPA. Through COPA’s “Adopt-a-Parish” program, Fr. Chi’s parish in Iligan regularly receives funds used in the formation of lay ministers and catechists. Back then, this made his job of overseeing 35 chapels scattered all over the mountains of Digkilaan more manageable.
In March 2007, MILF rebels attacked Fr. Chi’s Mountain barangay in Digkilaan. Through its Emergency Assistance Program, COPA provided funds to feed residents who took refuge in their parish church for several weeks. This and other stories shared by him at COPA gatherings moved so many St. James parishioners to extend aid to him in cash and kind – including a motorcycle that helped him so much as he constantly traveled through rough terrain to reach his parish’s many chapels.
Back in Nigeria since 2010, he now manages an orphanage of 64 children, many of whose parents are slain victims of Boko Haram (“Nigerian Taliban”).
“We feed (the children).. we send them to school.. we clothe them, take care of their health, look for families to adopt them,” says Fr. Chi, explaining that it only takes 4 USD to feed a Nigerian child in his orphanage for a day. No amount is too small to help the young orphans under Fr. Chi’s care.
You can help too! Donate to Fr. Chi’s mission through the St. James COPA Foundation. Contact the COPA office at telephone 8842-6369.
