Parallel to the saying, “forgetting where you come from is to forever remain a child,” the story of my vocation to the priesthood and in addition, the missionary priesthood with the Society of African Missions, (SMA) cannot be thrown to oblivion. The importance of history in the life of every person plays a vital role in the self-discovery of that person. However, being the first child of the family of five children, my vocation story has helped me to discover how God has journeyed with me through this “road less travelled”.
At the dawn of my vocation as a priest, the knowledge and identity of a priest seemed to be blurring. The image of the priesthood I had was derived from the different experiences I had with some of the priests I met as child. As at then, I couldn’t make any difference between circular priests, religious, and those of apostolic life. For me, a priest is a priest and nothing else. Little did I know that this image would go a long way to shape my modus vivendi.
After my first Holy Communion in 1998, I joined the Altar boys of my Parish (St Theresa’s Catholic Church Kurmin Mashi, Kaduna State). The then parish priest, Rev Fr Joseph Kato KWASSAU, who till date is popularly known as Fr Big Joe, was very tough and rigorous to the Altar boys. His rigorosity ignited the desire to become a priest in order to show him that priests are supposed to be kind and tender hearted. I was also inspired to become a priest whenever I attend ordinations with my fellow altar boys, this inspiration normally comes during the chanting of the litany of saints. I used to wish that one day I would also be laying in front of the altar for people to chant it at my ordination. This desire kept burning up to the end of my Junior High School.
Having been sent to a government boarding school for my Senior High School, the desire to become a priest was hibernated. The milieu changed as well as the reality of life. I was taken away from home and therefore could not participate in any church activity. I had to learn to survive in the boarding house where life was brutish and tough. At the end of my boarding school (2005), the desire to become a priest was still in the pipeline. However, I expressed my desire to become a priest to Rev. Fr. Richard ANGOLIO, SMA, he was a vicar at the SMA parish of St. Peters Sabon Tasha Kaduna. After our meeting with him, he encouraged me to apply into any tertiary institution of my choice in order to really authenticate my vocation. According to him, “if it is the will of God for you to become a missionary priest, you will surely apply and would be accepted”. This made me to seek for admission at the Kaduna Polytechnic to study Surveying and Geo-informatics. In the course of my studies, I was also involved in the activities of the Holy Childhood Association (HCA), where I met Sis. Janet GOWON, ODN and Sr. Mariella ROCHIETTI, OLA. The later made me to understand the missionary vocation and from there I picked the interest to apply to the SMA. Due to my competence in Surveying and Geo-informatics, I worked in several construction companies such as: Mothercat, Team work global associates, both in Kaduna respectively, and finally at Simidia PSI International at Yenegoa, Bayelsa State. Yet, the desire to become a missionary priest kept burning in me. After three months of work experience with Simidia, precisely at the first quarter of the year 2010, I secured the admission to begin the SMA formation at the preparatory year house in Kagoro Kaduna.
At the preparatory house, we were seven, all from five different states in Nigeria. The experience was juicy and the foundation for initial formation was well laid by the then Director of the SMA preparatory house Kagoro, Very Rev. Fr. John O’Keeffe, SMA, from the Irish Province. He accompanied and oriented our minds to think nothing but becoming SMA priests. In September of the same year, we proceeded to the SMA formation Bodija Ibadan for our Philosophical studies at the famous Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary Bodija. However, in the course of my philosophical studies, I had the opportunity to be formed by the following SMA priests; Frs Timothy CULLINANE; Coleman NYLAN; Wilfrid KOYTZER; Paul AMEGASHI; Patrick AGBODI; Edward MUGE; and Francis ROZARIO. Having completed our four years of studies, we graduated in the year 2014.
In September 2014, I began the International year of SMA spirituality at the Centre Bresillac in Calavi Benin Republic. It was a fruitful and successful year for me. At the end of the Spiritual year, I took my first Oath of membership in the SMA on 25th June 2015. Later in the same year, I was sent to the North of Benin Republic for my pastoral experience at St Pierre de Kalale, where I met Fr. Johnson UGWU, SMA and Fr. Saturnino PASERO, SMA, who added more spices to my desire of becoming an SMA priest. Having completed this missionary experience, I was sent to study theology in Cote d’Ivoire.
From the day I arrived Cote d’Ivoire (31st July 2016), the conviction of becoming an SMA priest increased due to the fact that I could feel that I was satisfied with my discernment thus far. The following SMA priests where my formators; Frs. Eugenio BASSO, Simon ONOJA, Anthony DIDONGO, Eleuthere OUENSANVI, Gustave KOTUBETEY, and Leopoldo MOLENA. After three years of Theological studies, I took my permanent Oath in the SMA on the 20th June and ordained deacon on 22nd June 2019. After a year of experience as a deacon, I was ordained SMA priest on the 4th of July 2020. It was indeed a historical ordination due to the ravaging pandemic of corona virus that has engulf the entire world.
It is worthy to note that there have been many who have accompanied us throughout this journey, yet, there names are not mentioned. This is not to down play their individual roles but due to this limited medium of expression, we are obliged not to make litany of names. However, their efforts remained painted in our hearts as part of our story. I pray God to help me with the graces I need to remain faithful to my vocation and that through me, He may draw more people to this noble ministry of service to Him and His people.
Rev. Fr. Amos Cletus BAKUT, SMA
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