Brother Modestus Ngwu, OP, was elected Prior Provincial during the Chapter of the Province of St. Joseph the Worker, Nigeria and Ghana, held at the Priory of St. Thomas Aquinas in Ibadan, Nigeria. Following the confirmation by the Master of the Order of Preachers, Brother Gerard Timoner III, OP, on 27 July 2021, Br. Modestus accepted the election and made the Profession of Faith.
Born on 18 July 1970 to Mr. Callistus Ngwu and Mrs. Roseline Ngwu, Br. Modestus entered the Order in 1994, and made his first religious profession in 1995. He completed his institutional studies at the Dominican Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Ibadan and was ordained to the priesthood on 11 September 2004.
He held the following offices in the Province and in the Church: Associate Pastor of St. Paul Parish in Oyigbo, Nigeria, from 2004 to 2009; Parochial Vicar of St. Augustine Parish in Humboldt, Canada, from 2009 to 2010; Parish Administrator of Sacred Heart Parish in Watson, Canada, from 2010 to 2013; Pastor of St. Mary Parish in Fox Valley, from 2013 to 2016, and of Bishop Murray High School in Saskatoon, from 2013 to 2015; Chaplain of Holy Cross High School in Saskatoon, from 2013 to 2015; Chaplain of Bethlehem Catholic High School in Saskatoon, from 2015 to 2016, and of the Regional Psychiatric Center in Saskatoon, from 2014 to 2016; Chaplain Residency, Clinical Pastoral Education, Hershey Medical Center, PA, USA, from 2017 to 2018; and Supervisory Chaplain for the Catholic Services at the Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, from 2016 until his election as Prior Provincial.
Brother Modestus loves to contemplate the beauty of God in nature. He believes that nature is constantly revealing a mystery beyond itself. His published work, “The Splendor of the Prairies”, received some praises in Saskatoon, Canada. Presently in the diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, he loves and enjoys his ministry at the hospital as a chaplain. Because of his encounters with patients, he sees Jesus in the life of every patient admitted to the hospital. He shares their fears, anxieties, pains, and brokenness. These experiences gave birth to his second book, “Grace in Horror”, which has five-star reviews on Amazon. This book is a recapitulation of his experiences – standing at the bedside of so many patients, listening to them and their family members. Though the experience of suffering is not pleasant, Br. Modestus finds the beauty and the indestructibility of God’s love and Presence in the life of every human being in that sacred time of vulnerability.
Brother Modestus will be guided in his service as Provincial by his love for the brotherhood, his friendliness, his simplicity and spontaneity in service, and his compassion for the weak and vulnerable. Trusting in God’s mercy and strength, we recommend to your prayers our brother Modestus’ service to the Order and to the Church.
