In the distant state of California, within the Diocese of San Bernardino in the United States of America, our own Fr. Benedict Nwachukwu Udaku has been appointed vicar for priests. By virtue of this significant office, Fr. Ben will oversee, among other responsibilities, the pastoral care and welfare of the priests serving in the diocese. He serves as the bishop’s trusted representative, attentive to the needs, concerns, and well-being of his brother priests. This appointment comes in addition to his already demanding role as a formator in the diocesan seminary. It is also worth recalling that he has previously held several positions of great responsibility and trust within the Diocese of San Bernardino.
This recent appointment further confirms what many have long recognized: Fr. Ben is truly an icon of the priesthood in our time.
Permit me to explain.
Fr. Ben may not possess an imposing physical stature, yet he stands remarkably tall wherever authentic priesthood is celebrated. His greatness is measured not by outward appearance but by the nobility of his character and the integrity of his priestly witness. His ministry is distinguished by humility, simplicity, profound piety, and generous self-sacrifice. His life has become a quiet yet eloquent testimony to service, especially to the poor, the vulnerable, and those most in need. For him, every office entrusted to his care is not a privilege to be enjoyed but a responsibility to serve God’s people more faithfully.
In a recent conversation with one of his longtime parishioners in the United States, whose identity I respectfully withhold, the gentleman remarked: “Fr. Ben is an ideal priest. I pray that we may have more priests like him.” He went on to describe how, since his appointment as vicar for priests, Fr. Ben has personally visited sick and elderly priests, bringing them not only pastoral care but also the warmth of fraternity and compassion. Even before this appointment, he had demonstrated remarkable concern for aged priests back home by providing many of them with regular financial assistance and personal care.
Dear Fr. Ben, These words are not intended to canonize you. Those who know you well understand that you shy away from praise and public acclaim. Nevertheless, in an age when authentic witnesses are so greatly needed, it is only fitting to acknowledge priests who strive, with sincerity and perseverance, to live the Gospel and the ideals of the sacred priesthood. Your life reminds us that faithful and selfless priests continue to labor quietly in the Lord’s vineyard, bringing hope to the Church and glory to God.
Congratulations on your well-deserved appointment as Vicar for Priests. May the Good Shepherd, whom you have faithfully served, continue to strengthen you with His grace, grant you wisdom in leadership, perseverance in charity, and abundant blessings as you undertake this important ministry.
Fr. Fabian Chiadikaobi Njoku
