We welcome Fr. Jude Adejoh, CSSp. to St. Francis Xavier Mission - St. Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine as our new pastor. Fr.Jude Adejoh C.S.Sp, belonging to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans) hailed from Ankpa local government area of Kogi State Nigeria. I was born to the family of Mr and Mrs Andrew Adejoh (K.S.M); a family of Nine (4 boys 5 girls) where I happened to be the fifth child.

Studies and Formation 
I had my Postulancy and Novitiate in the Spiritan postulancy and Novitiate Nigeria. After the novitiate, I proceeded to the philosophy house in Nigeria. After my philosophy, I had my Prefecting (pastoral year); and this was done in Brazzaville Congo and Nigeria respectfully. At the completion of my Prefecting I continued with my theological studies at the Spiritan

International School of Theology (SIST) Nigeria. Upon the completion of my theological studies, I was ordained a Catholic Priest on the 16 th of July, 2022 at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church Idah in the Catholic Diocese of Idah, Kogi State, Nigeria.

Pastoral/mission As required by the Church, every priest ordained is charged with a pastoral engagement. To this effect I was sent on mission to Canada where I will discharge my duties as a priest. Although, while waiting for my Visa, I assisted for a year a couple of parishes in the celebration of the Holy Mass and the sacraments. On arrival to Canada in the year 2023, I was appointed to work with Pope Johnpaul II pastoral unit on the 1 st of January 2024 as priest collaborator for a year and nine months in the pastoral unit. We had eight parishes where I performed my duties as a priest and at the end of October 2025, I was appointed the Pastor of Saint Francis Xavier Mission Kahnawake.

Message from Fr. Jude Adejoh CSSp.

March 22, 2026

The Dry Bones Shall Rise Again

The word of God on this fifth Sunday of Lent, presents us with two images of life snatched from death: the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel and the tomb of Lazarus in Bethany-the Gospel. Both speak of situations that seem hopeless, where life has withdrawn and only death remains. Yet in either case, God does not allow death to have the last word.

The prophecy today does not concern only ancient Israel. It applies to all situations where systems of exploitation, violence or neglect reduce people to “dry bones,” deprived of dignity, voice and hope. Entire communities today live as if locked in a tomb: crushed by ecological destruction, forced displacement, debt or economic structures that prioritize profit at the expense of people. Their lands are ravaged, their rivers polluted, their ways of life stifled. From the outside, one might think that nothing new can sprout there.

In this reality, the Gospel of the resurrection of Lazarus resonates with the same force. Jesus does not remain distant from death. He goes to Bethany, stands before a sealed tomb, and weeps. His tears are not a sign of weakness, but of divine compassion. 

Before calling Lazarus out of the tomb, Jesus accepts the pain of Martha, Mary and the whole community. He enters into their mourning. Then he cries out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The one who was bound by funeral bandages comes out of the tomb. But the story does not end there. Jesus turns to those around him and says, “Unbind him, and let him go.” The miracle involves the community. They must help remove the signs of death and return Lazarus to life among his own.

This is where the Word connects with our mission. We are called to untie others. Faith in the God of life cannot remain abstract or disembodied. It draws us to those whose lives have been emptied by unjust systems, communities wounded by extractive industries, environmental degradation, crushing poverty and exclusion.

Lent leads us to the cross, where death must triumph. But already today, amid the dry bones and open tombs, we are reminded that God raises the dead. And he invites us to be, with Christ, servants of life.