After earning an engineering degree and researching drones, Deacon Chukwuma Odigwe followed a call to the priesthood, shaped by the example of his family and by the priests and people of his home parish, St. Columba in Oxon Hill. He will be ordained as a priest for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington on June 21.
Born and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Deacon Odigwe grew up in a Catholic family where faith was central to daily life. His parents fostered a home rooted in prayer, regularly attending Mass, praying the rosary together and bringing God into family conversations. He credits this strong foundation for opening his heart to discernment as a teenager.
Deacon Odigwe first seriously considered the priesthood during high school.
“It was in this period that I began to consider my Catholic faith as the central part of my life,” he said. “One moment during Mass, I realized that a priestly life could be joyful.”
That same year, Deacon Odigwe attended a Quo Vadis discernment retreat hosted by the Archdiocese of Washington. There, he met some seminarians and priests and saw their vocation in a new light.
“Seminarians and priests were just like me, except they responded to God’s call to serve Him in a unique way,” he said. “I began to consider if God was calling me to this life.”
Deacon Odigwe attended the University of Maryland in College Park, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering in 2018. After graduation, he worked as a volunteer coordinator for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington and later as a systems engineer for the Federal Aviation Administration, where he coordinated research on drone technology.
While he once thought he might pursue aerospace engineering, the call to priesthood remained persistent. In 2019, he entered Saint John Paul II Seminary in Washington and later continued his formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
Throughout his discernment, Deacon Odigwe was supported by many mentors, including Father Rob Walsh, a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington who guided him through his earliest discernment retreats and later as the chaplain at the University of Maryland. He also credits the example of the priests at St. Columba Parish in Oxon Hill and the parishioners who led his youth group there.
“The example of joyful priests and parishioners who lived the faith with integrity was a great help to me as I began to discern,” Deacon Odigwe said.
“My experiences in seminary have helped me recognize how the priesthood is based in a relationship with God,” he said. “God does not call men to serve as priests because they are qualified; instead, He qualifies the men He calls.”
Among his favorite courses were sacramental theology and Christology, which allowed him to connect what he learned about God in class to his personal prayer life and to better recognize God’s presence in others.
Daily prayer remains central to his vocation. He prays the Liturgy of the Hours, the rosary and spends time each day in silent prayer and reflection.
“During night prayer, I take time to reflect on the day with God through an examination of conscience. This has helped me remain aware of God’s presence throughout the day,” he said.
Outside of seminary, Deacon Odigwe enjoys reading, playing basketball and spending time with friends. His favorite saint is St. Anthony of Padua, whose intercession and example have influenced him throughout his life. He also is a fan of the Washington Wizards and Commanders.
Deacon Odigwe was surprised by the profound brotherhood that developed among his fellow seminarians.
“The authentic friendships that are formed between those discerning God’s call and seeking to live holy lives are particularly strong in the seminary,” he said.
As he prepares for ordination, Deacon Odigwe holds close a verse from the Gospel of John 15:9: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love.” He said, “Remaining in this love will be central to all that I do as a priest.”
After his ordination to the priesthood, Father Odigwe will return home to St. Columba Church in Oxon Hill, to celebrate his first Mass on Sunday June 22 at noon.
