A New Beginning for Missionary Ministry
By Father Ian McElrath
01/30/2026
Our diocese’s first priests were missionaries. Leaving behind family and homeland, they embraced the Catholic Church’s call to minister in the wild and rugged terrain of northwestern Pennsylvania. In time, they were joined by intrepid religious sisters who embraced Christ’s call to care for the sick, the orphaned, and the uneducated. And their labors bore much fruit.
Within two generations, the Diocese of Erie’s demographic star was on the rise as the oil, coal and timber industries brought more and more families to the region. The deep faith of the early Catholic settlers and immigrants took root in the rich Pennsylvania soil, and God granted the increase.
Soon, instead of receiving missionaries, we were sending them out, and for those of us alive today, that seems like the natural and permanent order of things. But times have changed, and our diocesan story has come full circle. This land is mission territory again.
On Jan. 9, a new initiative by Bishop Lawrence Persico bore its first fruit when two priests from the Diocese of Ekwulobia, Nigeria, arrived in Erie. Father Festus Okoye and Father John Nwankwo were sent here by their bishop for a term of five years to share with us the fire of the Gospel which is burning so brightly in their homeland and to give some relief to our own weary priests. They are missionaries, called to help us spread the good news of Jesus Christ to a world that hungers – unknowingly – for Him.
When they arrived in Erie, Father Festus and Father John began a six to eight week orientation period, during which they learned about American life like parallel parking and opening bank accounts and all kinds of things we take for granted.
They’re also learning how the pastoral skills they’ve honed in Nigeria must be adapted to America. They have a lot to take in during a short period of time, and frankly, if our roles were reversed, I don’t think I could do it! Be sure to pray for them!
In time, we expect they will be joined by other priests from Africa and India. Our own priests are spread too thin, and we need all the help we can get, but more importantly, we need missionaries to help the Holy Spirit set us on fire for the Gospel.
For all our talk about a shortage of priests, the number of people attending Mass in this part of the country is declining far more rapidly than the number of clergy.
It’s my hope that Father Festus, Father John and the other missionary priests who join them, will help us to take the Gospel to everyone in our diocese as we embrace anew the mission given us by Jesus at our baptisms: “Go, make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
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