E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 217-650-9276
Fr. Freddie is a Catholic priest of Nnewi Diocese in Nigeria, West Africa. He is the second of the four surviving children of late Mr. Edwin Mbiere and Mrs Alice Mbiere (living). As a kid he had a keen interest in the Church’s activities and developed a dream of serving God as a priest in his life, having been highly influenced by the piety and indeed, the spirituality of his father who always took him along while attending daily Masses or any other Church’s events. Having performed excellently in the entrance examination at the end of his primary school education, he entered the Seminary at the age of 12. Here under are the high points of his life journey so far:
1989: Admission into the minor Seminary in Onitsha Archdiocese, Nigeria as a kid after his primary education.
1998: Four-year philosophical courses for Bachelor’s degree in Arts in a Major Seminary, Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu Nigeria, at the completion of his 8 years of minor seminary studies and spiritual formation.
2002: Four-year theological studies for a Bachelor’s degree at Blessed Iwene Tansi Seminary Onitsha, Nigeria.
December 17, 2005: Deaconate ordination at Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral Nnewi, Nigeria by Most Rev. Dr. Hilary Paul Odili Okeke.
July 15, 2006: Priestly ordination at Our Lady of Assumption Cathedral Nnewi, by Most Rev. Dr. H.P.O. Okeke.
January 1, 2007 - October 7, 2008: Associate Pastor at St. Michael’s Catholic Church Nnewi Nigeria.
October 8, 2008 - May 31, 2009: Associate Pastor at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Unubi, Nigeria.
June 26, 2009: Departure to Rome, Italy for further studies.
October 2009 - June 2012: Licentiate (Masters) degree studies in Missiology/Catechesis, Urban University Rome Italy.
October 2012 - January 11, 2016: Doctoral studies (Ph.D.) in Missiology/Catechesis, Urban University Rome Italy.
February 1, 2016 – June 30, 2021: The Diocese of Springfield Illinois, full time Priest Chaplain at HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, (resident at Christ the King Parish in Springfield from Feb. 1, 2016 – June 30, 2017).
July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2021: Parochial Administrator at Resurrection Parish, Illiopolis.
July 1, 2021 till date: Pastor at Resurrection Parish in Illiopolis and St. John Vianney in Sherman.
As pastor, it is my singular aim to serve the people of God in imitation of the saintly priest, John Vianney who dedicated his whole life in serving God’s people in the parish of Ars in France. I will always be available to attend to their pastoral needs. I will work closely with the talented and hardworking staff of our parish, the various councils, all the volunteers who serve in various capacities in the parish and other groups, to make our parish a holy and happy home for all, where the Catholic faith is formed and witnessed to, in its profundity. May God give us His grace! I love you all!
Fr. Freddie Mbiere