A HEBBURN priest is bidding farewell to the town and heading home to his native Nigeria.
Father Jude Ogbuanu has been an assistant priest at St Aloysius and St James’s RC parish since early 2007.
In that time, he has become popular for his warmth and close ties with the community.
During his time in Hebburn, Fr Ogbuanu, from Abia state, in the south east of Nigeria, has served with parish priest Father Martin Morris.
Originally posted to St Joseph’s Church, Millfield, Sunderland, Fr Ogbuanu was given a full-time pastoral ministry in January 2007 with the Hebburn Catholic parish.
Apart from his work in South Tyneside, Fr Ogbuanu led the Many Cultures, One Church group in the Hexham and Newcastle Diocese, which was a collective initiative between migrant priests and the Catholic Church in the North East.
Fr Ogbuanu said: “The parishioners of Hebburn have shown me great friendship and welcome since I came to the parish, through the encouragement of Fr Morris.
“I wish to acknowledge the support of Father Ernest Donnelly, who was in retirement at the presbytery of St Aloysius, Hebburn.
“He was a great inspiration and support to me as a father figure and a colleague.
“I am very grateful to them and to all the parishioners of Hebburn.”
Fr Morris said: “Fr Jude brought a lot of smiles and a multi-cultural awareness to our parish and he will be missed.”
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