JONESBORO — Joseph Silas Archibong became the first transitional deacon from Nigeria ordained for the Diocese of Little Rock Dec. 15 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Jonesboro.
Archibong is following in the footsteps of an older brother who is a priest.
While a number of priests in Arkansas are from Nigerian dioceses, they are “extern” priests who are on loan to the Diocese of Little Rock. Archibong will be the first diocesan priest from Nigeria when he is ordained in May.
Archibong, 30, credits his family who supported him and gave him a strong foundation in the Catholic faith.
The next to youngest of 12 children of Silas and Martha Archibong of Akwa Ibon state in Nigeria, he entered a high school seminary at the age of 12.
He joined a religious order, but through prayer and discernment decided to study for the diocese in 2007. He attends St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana.
Phone calls and e-mail messages to Archibong were not returned by the publication deadline.
As is customary for seminarians from other countries, Archibong spent a pastoral year in a parish in the diocese. His was spent from August 2008 to May 2009 at Blessed Sacrament Church, which welcomed him as one of its own.
Father Mark Wood, who was pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church until September and now serves at St. Theresa Church in Little Rock, said Archibong has many qualities that will make him a good priest.
“Joseph wanted to be a priest, and he also felt called to be missionary, to go to someplace outside of his own country. It ultimately led him to come to Arkansas,” he said. “I thought it must have taken lot of courage, coming to place he had never been before, obviously a different culture … and to know that for rest of life he will be here in Arkansas. Part of that means he probably won’t be able to go back to visit his family in Nigeria frequently. It takes a lot of courage and a lot of faith and generosity. Those are great gifts for a priest to have.”
In addition, Archibong has an outgoing personality that has attracted people to him.
Father Wood said he was also proud of the parishioners and the way they responded to Archibong.
“As I told them before Joseph came, he is not from Arkansas but wants to be an Arkansas priest. He needs a parish to adopt him, to be his home and that is us and people responded to that challenge,” he said.
Archibong’s family was unable to attend the ordination, but he left the following week to visit his family for the holidays.
During the ordination rite, Msgr. Scott Friend, vocation director, presented him to Bishop Taylor. The bishop said Archibong was chosen for the order of the diaconate and the congregation burst into loud applause, showing their approval.
The bishop questioned Archibong on his willingness to become a deacon, to assist priests, serve the faithful and remain celibate, as well as to live a life of prayer and conform his life to the example of Christ.
Archibong then promised respect and obedience to the bishop and his successors.
Bishop Taylor urged him to take time daily to pray.
In his homily, Bishop Taylor spoke about the greatest commandment of all, which Jesus said was “Love one another, as I have loved you. There is no greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for a friend.”
“That is a lot more than loving others than we love ourselves,” the bishop said.
Deacons Archibong, Jason Sharbaugh, Tony Robbins and Ruben Quinteros are scheduled to be ordained priests May 22 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock.