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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.
Reflection by Sabina Ukamaka Offorjebe
On My Husband, Deacon Sylvanus (Sunny) Sunday Offorjebe
Reflection by 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) Offorjebe, has shown me how a life shaped by faith can become a gift to many. Sunny’s journey has revealed God’s quiet grace every step of the way. His desire to serve God never faded—from his childhood, through his nine years of formation in the seminary, to the challenges that led him to leave priestly formation in Nigeria.
While here in the United States, I have watched him grow with determination, excelling in his profession while remaining rooted in faith. His service to the Igbo community, especially the Igbo Catholic communities, his devotion to the Eucharist, and his commitment to the entire Church community were early signs that God was still preparing him for a future ministry.
The invitation to the permanent diaconate awakened a call that had been waiting for decades. His years of formation demanded sacrifices, but they also revealed his perseverance, humility, and compassion. On May 14, 2016, when he was ordained a Roman Catholic deacon, I knew God had added something beautiful and exceptional to His vineyard.
My heart is full of joy and gratitude as he marks the tenth anniversary of his ordination to the diaconate. I thank God for the grace that has carried him thus far—serving various church communities, assisting at Eucharistic celebrations, preaching with sincerity and passion, performing weddings and infant baptisms, supporting seminarians, orphanages, and the less privileged, praying for and with the sick, burying the dead, comforting families, strengthening faith, leading the people of God in devotion to the Holy Eucharist, and offering his time generously.
At home, he is the same—loving and devoted to his family. Our marriage and family life are woven into his vocation, with prayer as its foundation. As a family, we have shared in the sacrifices and joys of his ministry, trusting in God.
May the Lord, who began this good work in him, continue to bless, sustain, and expand it. May his service bear richer fruit, and may our family continue to walk with him on this journey, knowing that God never fails.
May his life continue to be a testimony that God’s grace always finds a way!
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