My dear parishioners,

 

God is Good!!! All The Time!!! And All the Time!!! God is Good!!!

It is with great humility and honor that I express my sincere gratitude to all our parishioners for your excellent hospitality since within these few days. Thank you to everyone that gave their stewardships to ensure a smooth transition. I am equally grateful to Fr. Val for taking the time to show me around the area. The purpose of this write-up is to officially introduce myself via our church bulletin.

I was born the (second son of four boys and one girl) first day of summer, June 21st, 1972 (the Feast Day of St. Aloysius: That’s how I got my name) to late-Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Theresa Ndeanaefo to the town of Umuhu  Okabia in the old Orlu Local Government area of Imo State in Nigeria of West Africa. After my grade school, I attended both St. Paul’s Seminary Ukpor and All Hallows Seminary, Onitsha for my Junior High School Seminary studies. I also studied four years of philosophy and the first year of theology at Bigard Memorial University Seminary in the Enugu State of Nigeria.

In 2001, Archbishop George Lucas invited me to the diocese of Springfield where I lived with Bishop Carl Kemme (then Fr. Kemme) at Holy Family Parish in Decatur, Illinois before going to University of St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein Seminary in the Archdiocese of Chicago to complete my seminary studies. On May 28th, 2005, together with six other candidates, I was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield, Illinois.

Since my ordination in 2005, I have worked at SS Peter and Paul from 2005-2008. I have also worked at St. Paul’s Parish, Highland, 2008 to 2010 and the Crawford County parishes of Our Lady of Lourdes, Oblong, and St. Elizabeth Parish in Robinson from 2010 to 2016. My last assignment was St. Michael’s parish, Hume and Sacred Heart parish, Villa Grove from July 1st, 2016 to June 30th, 2023. As of July 1st, 2023, the Bishop appointed as the Pastor of St, Mary’s Parish in Paris, IL; St. Aloysius Parish in North Arm, IL; while retaining my assignment as the Pastor of St. Michael’s Parish in Hume, Illinois.

I am happy and very grateful to God for the opportunity to be the servant of God to all of you as we work together towards building a spiritual home for all and for posterity in our vicinity.

Sincerely in Christ,

Fr. Aloysius