By CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) — Father Moses Nwosu is enjoying the area. He is the newest parish priest for the three-point charge of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Cobden; St. Pius Catholic Church in Osceola and St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Douglas.
The Pembroke Diocese is the fourth diocese he has been assigned to since being ordained in 2001 in Nigeria with the Sons of Mary, Mother of Mercy Congregation, which he joined in 1990.
Previous to this diocese, Fr. Moses was in the Diocese of Thunder Bay for seven years and seven months serving in Balmertown in the Red Lake Municipality, Ontario. He also served in the Diocese of Spyer, Germany. When he came to the Pembroke diocese in 2012, Fr. Moses served as parish priest in Maynooth-Whitney-Madawaska for five years.
“I go wherever the church sends me,” he said.
He recalls flying into Red Lake.
“When I flew up north, in January 2005, I thought it was frozen ground,” Father Moses said, adding with a laugh, “I did not know it was a frozen lake.”
Since arriving in September, Father Moses has come to know his parishioners and is enjoying the beautiful scenery.
“Everyone is so welcoming,” he said. “I love the spirit. There is a lot of family structure. There are couples with a lot of children. It brings me big joy to see the children in church.
“The families are dedicated to their faith and parish activities.”
Looking back to his youth, Father Moses was born a year before Civil War broke out in Nigeria. When it ended, his family suffered financial difficulties. When he was eight years old, he started primary school. When he was 14, he was sent to service his uncle.
“After four years there, my uncle sent me to school,” he said.
After receiving his credentials, Father Moses still had to look for a vocation, the kind of priest he wanted to become. Explaining, he said a person could enter the religious congregation of the church or the diocesan – he chose the religious.
By choosing the religious, Father Moses said he had more opportunity to work with different dioceses that needed priests.
“You are asked if you want to go and you can also indicate where you want to go,” he said. “The people of God need the presence of priests.
“It gives me strength and joy when people express their appreciation for your presence there.”
When Father Moses has spare time, he enjoys reading, watching television and praying.
