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A Vocation Supported by Family
A Vocation Supported by Family
Behind Deacon Sunny’s journey of faith and ministry has been the love and support of family.
When his earlier journey toward the priesthood came to an end, the call to serve God did not disappear. Years later, as the path toward the diaconate began to unfold, that calling would become not only a personal commitment, but one embraced and supported by his family.
At the heart of that support has been his wife, Sabina-Ukamaka, whose encouragement helped sustain his journey back to formal formation and ultimately to ordained ministry.
A Partner in the Journey
A Partner in the Journey
When the path to priesthood did not unfold as he had once expected, Sabina-Ukamaka remained a source of encouragement, reminding Sunny that God was not finished with him.
Years later, when the call to the diaconate emerged, she embraced the journey with him — supporting the years of formation, the demands of ministry, and the sacrifices that ordained service would bring to family life.
In her own words, she was willing to “share him with the Church” — a simple expression that speaks to the partnership, faith, and sacrifice behind his vocation.
A Family Sharing in the Mission
A Family Sharing in the Mission
The journey to ordained ministry was one shared by the entire family. Years of formation, study and preparation required time, commitment and sacrifice—not only from Deacon Sunny, but also from those closest to him.
Through those years and throughout his diaconal ministry, his family has remained an important source of strength and support. The demands of service became part of family life, while the blessings of ministry brought opportunities for shared faith, spiritual growth and joy.
In this way, his vocation to the diaconate became more than an individual calling—it became a mission embraced by the family.
A Wife's Reflection
Sabina-Ukamaka Offorjebe
A Wife's Reflection
Sabina-Ukamaka Offorjebe
On My Husband, Deacon Sylvanus (Sunny) Sunday Offorjebe
A Life Woven in Faith, Family, and Service
Walking beside my husband, Deacon Sylvanus (Sunny) Sunday Offorjebe, has shown me how a life shaped by faith can become a gift to many. Sunny’s journey has never been simple, yet every step reveals God’s quiet grace. From his childhood in Oko, through nine formative years in the seminary, to the challenges that led him away from priestly formation, his desire to serve God never faded. Instead, it deepened.
When he came to the United States, I watched him rebuild his life with determination—excelling in his profession while remaining rooted in faith. His service to the Igbo Catholic communities, his devotion to the Eucharist, and his commitment to teaching our people were early signs that God was still preparing him for ministry.
The invitation to the permanent diaconate awakened a call that had been waiting for decades. His years of formation demanded sacrifice, but they also revealed his humility, compassion, and perseverance. On May 14, 2016, when he was ordained a Roman Catholic Deacon, I knew God had completed something beautiful and exceptional.
Sunny’s ministry is quiet but profound. He serves through presence—praying with the sick, comforting families, preaching with sincerity, and generously offering his time. At home, he is the same man: loving, patient, and devoted to our children and to me.
To the world, Sunny is a deacon, a leader, a mentor, and a servant of God. To me, he is also:
A husband who loves deeply and faithfully.
A servant whose humility reveals Christ.
Our marriage and family life are woven into his vocation. We have shared its sacrifices and its joys, trusting God through every season. As Sunny marks ten years as a deacon, my heart is full of gratitude. His life is a testimony that God’s grace always finds a way.
My Prayer for the Years Ahead
As Sunny celebrates ten years as a permanent deacon, my heart is full—not only with pride, but with gratitude. I thank God for the grace that carried him from the seminary in Nigeria to the altar in San Jose. I thank God for the communities he has served, the seminarians, people in need he has supported, the families he has comforted, and the faith he has strengthened.
And I thank God for the quiet grace of each new day—the grace that continues to guide our family, deepen our love, and strengthen his ministry.
May the Lord who began this good work in him continue to bless, sustain, and expand it. May his service bear even richer fruit. And may our family continue to walk this journey together, trusting always in the God who has never failed us.
The journey continues—and I walk with him with gratitude, love, and faith.
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