If I had stayed in Nigeria for formation, I wouldn’t be a priest today — the seminary in Nigeria would have expelled me.

If I had stayed in Nigeria for formation, I wouldn’t be a priest today — the seminary in Nigeria would have expelled me.

If I Stayed in Nigeria, I Would’ve Been Expired—Not Ordained.A Vocation Story They Won’t Preach on Vocation Sunday.

Yesterday, I made a simple post: “I’m not a Nigerian Catholic priest. I belong to a Korean Diocese and congregation.”
Boom! Everybody suddenly became customs and immigration: “Why did you go so far? Korea? Asin South Korea??”

Well, gather around dear people of God, because today I shall reply with holy honesty.

Let me just say this: If I had done my formation in Nigeria, I wouldn’t be a priest today. Not because I lacked faith—but because the system might have expired me before ordination.

I’ve heard stories. Not rumors but testimonies of trauma. From my priest friends, seminarians, ex-seminarians and almost-seminarians. The kind of stories that make you wonder if some seminaries are minor monasteries or military camps.

Let’s be real: Formation in Nigeria can be toxic. And if you’ve ever been through it, you either come out a priest—or a patient in recovery. Some people leave with a collar. Others leave with scars.

There’s this vocation adage I’ve heard all my life: “Many are called, but few are chosen.” really? . I think it’s the opposite:
“Many are chosen, but few are called.”

In other words, if you know somebody, you go enter seminary. If you’re quiet, gifted, prayerful, but not “connected”? Eyaaa… try again next time.

But let me say this without bitterness and with gratitude: God saved my vocation by taking me far. Yes, all the way to South Korea—where I could grow without fear, without favoritism, and without being asked why I don’t smile like Fr. X.

In Korea, they trained me as a human being before forming me as a priest.
They didn’t try to break my personality in the name of humility. They didn’t treat emotion as weakness or silence as disobedience. They didn’t preach detachment and then play favoritism like chess.

That’s why I say boldly today: If I had stayed in Nigeria for formation, it’s either they would’ve expired me—or I’d have expired myself, for the sake of my sanity.

So to those asking why I’m in Korea, here’s my answer: God flew me out to keep my calling alive. And I thank Him every day for not allowing what man would have rejected to die.

Now, for anyone reading this in formation or thinking of priesthood, let me say:
God’s call is real.
The system may be tough.
But don’t let men frustrate the grace of God in you.

And to my dear formation houses and Superiors back home: Kindly review your methods. Because some of you aren’t forming shepherds—you’re forging survivors. Seminary shouldn’t be trauma camp with cassocks.

As for me, I’m ordained today—not because I’m better, but because God took me out before I lost the fire.

And now I’m here, as a priest of Jesus Christ, ready to serve, smile, and speak up.

Silence may be golden, but truth is divine.
Rev Fr Prince Chidi Philip –