Igono Daniel Odoma, cmf

From Nigeria to Peru, as missionary.

My name is Igono Daniel Odoma, cmf. I was born into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Igono Patrick Ogilih of Alokegbe – Egume in Dekina local government area of Kogi State, Nigeria. I joined the Claretian Missionaries in 1998 and began my postulancy that same year in our postulate house then in Enugu.

I did my novitiate and first profession at Heart of Mary Novitiate Utonkon before proceeding to Maryland, Owerri, for my philosophical studies. After my graduation in 2004, I was posted to St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ichi for my one-year apostolic experience. While there I had a personal consultation with Very Rev. Pr. Rosendo Urrabazo, cmf, who came to Nigeria on a canonical visitation, on the possibility of my being available for the “universal mission “ of the Congregation. As a follow up to this discussion, I got a letter from Fr. General, Very Rev. Fr. Josep Maria Abella, cmf, via my Provincial Superior, Very Rev. Fr. Wenceslaus Madu, cmf, in the month of June that I ha have been assigned to the Delegation of Perú.

As I prepare to travel from Rome to Peru I feel very enthusiastic and happy because God has given me this great opportunity to make my own contribution to the universal mission of the Congregation. Therefore, I am not afraid of the great tasks or challenges that lay ahead of me because I am very optimistic that the Lord of the mission, the Lord Jesus Christ, will accompany me in all my missionary activities in Peru. It is on this note therefore, I wish to advise all young people not to be afraid of embracing the missionary vocation. Instead, let them pray and ask God to give them the disposition and the spirit of availability so that they can respond also positively to this great call.

Igono Daniel, CMF