Pastor's Message

   Fr. Kelechi is delighted to have come to St. Bonaventure parish.  Rev. Fr. Kelechi MacDavis Uzuegbu came from a Catholic family in Nigeria, made up of parents and 6 siblings, 4 girls and two brothers.  He was born on 24th of June, 1974, the third child and the first son.  He has about eighteen cousins and nephews.

   Fr. Kelechi obtained a Bachelor of Philosophy and Bachelor of Theology from the Urban university, Rome.  He was ordained a priest in the Catholic Diocese of Okigwe, Nigeria on the 22nd of August, 2009, by His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze.  He has worked in 3 different parishes in Nigeria before coming to the United States.  And while in the Diocese of Jefferson City, he has tested pastoral life in four parishes, which has brought growth in his faith and knowledge.

  Fr. Kelechi likes reading books and articles and playing gospel music.  He likes playing lawn-tennis, bowling and watching wrestling.  He prays God to give him necessary grace to carry out his pastoral assignment efficiently and effectively.  And our dear Mother Mary to intercede for us on this global pandemic.

Advent/Christmas 2021

Merry Christmas to All!

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we thank God for sparing our lives, despite the breeze of the Pandemic and other viruses that challenged us in this past year, and as we approach the celebration of the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that we may have the courage to cast off the darkness of our lives, shed the masks that we wear, and put on Christ the only reality needed for our Eternal Life.

Advent is a season of grace that invites us to examine the way we live our lives, and to prepare ourselves to receive the Messiah. It is about letting Jesus Christ come to us. We do the “Letting” and Jesus himself does the “Coming”. He is going to be born in the poverty of our situations that we may be reborn in his forgiving Love.

We have made arrangements for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which will help us to enjoy God’s Mercy and Grace as we celebrate His Nativity. Therefore, join us for the Advent confession at our Parish here on the 16th of December 2021, from 6pm to 7pm. Or you can join us at Brookfield on the 12thof December 2021, from 5pm to 7pm. Remember also that Father Kelechi offers reconciliation 30 minutes before all of the weekend Masses.

We invite you to celebrate Christmas with us on Christmas Eve: 4pm at St. Bonaventure, Marceline; 6pm at St. Joseph, Hurricane Branch; or 8pm at Immaculate Conception at Brookfield. Also, on Christmas Day at St. Bonaventure at 9am.

If you have been away for a while because of the pandemic or another reason, this would be a good time to reunite with your brothers and sisters in Christ, if not for Christmas, shortly after the beginning of the New Year. We will be looking for you!

We hope you enjoy “Life Is Messy” by Matthew Kelly a gift from our parish. Please pass it on to someone else if it makes a difference in your life.

May God’s generous Mercy and Kindness fill our hearts and minds, as we celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rev. Kelechi Uzuegbu