Pictures of Father Peter's Dream

St. Peter Catholic Church (Front) Eziala, Owerri

St. Peter Catholic Church (Side) Eziala, Owerri

St. Peter Catholic Church (Side) Eziala, Owerri

St. Peter Catholic Church (Side) Eziala, Owerri

St. Peter Catholic Church (Inside) Eziala, Owerri

St. Peter Catholic Church (Inside) Eziala, Owerri

Father Peter Njoku was born on March 24, 1946 in Eziukwu, Aba to the late Mr. Jacob and Mrs. Catherine Njoku of Eziala- Obiangwu in Ngor Okpuala local government area in Owerri, Nigeria. His mother died when he was ten years old.

He started his elementary and secondary education at the following institutions: St. Mary’s Catholic School, Obiangwu; Christ the King, Aba and St. Eugene’s Catholic School, Aba in 1956 – 1961. In 1962, he entered St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, Umuowa and in 1963 – 1966 he schooled at St. Peter Claver Junior Seminary, Okpala.  Father Peter, in 1968 –1974 studied Philosophy and Theology at Bigard Memorial Senior Seminary, Enugu and was ordained a priest on April 20, 1974 for the diocese of Owerri, in South Eastern Nigeria.

He became an Associate Pastor of St. Gregory’s Parish, Amaigbo in 1974, a Parish Priest of St. Patrick’s Parish, Arrah and Mbato in 1975. 

Father Peter Njoku in 1977 left Nigeria to USA for further studies.  He was admitted to the then College of St. Thomas now the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.  A day after he enrolled at the University of St. Thomas he met his long life friend, Father Dennis Dease who is now the President of the University of St. Thomas.

In 1980, Father Peter Njoku returned to Nigeria and in 1980 – 1987 he taught Mathematics at St. Peter Claver Junior Seminary, Okpala where he was fondly known as “Peter Boy”.  In 1988 he came back to the USA for advanced degrees.  While as a student he served the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, St. Paul, Minnesota.  In 2001, Father Peter Njoku incardinated to the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and became the pastor of St. Jerome Catholic Church in Maplewood from 2004 – 2006.  His pastoral work took him to the following parishes: St. Michael Catholic Church, Kenyon and Pine Island as pastor in 200-2004; St. Paul Catholic Church, Zumbrota as pastor in 1997-2004; St. Phillip Catholic Church, Minneapolis as a temporary Administrator in 1996-1997; The Church of Epiphany, Coon Rapids as a Parochial Vicar in 1994-1996; Sacred Heart-St. Lawrence and St. Patrick, Faribault as a temporary Administrator;  Most Holy Trinity, Saint Louis Park as a temporary Administrator in 1993-1994; United Hospital, St. Paul as a Hospital Chaplain in 1990-1993; Blessed Sacrament, St. Paul as a Parochial Vicar in 1990-1990; St. Michael Catholic Church, Stillwater as a temporary Administrator in 1989-1990; and St. Michael Catholic Church, Stillwater as a Parochial Vicar in 1988-1989.

Alive, Father Peter Njoku radiated much love and happiness in all his interactions with people.  He had a generous spirit that he shared with every-one.  He led an exemplary life anywhere he lived. At 60, Father Peter Njoku led a full life.
May his soul rest in perfect peace. Amen.

Story

Fr. Peter Chukwuma Njoku had a huge project he was working on while alive. He started the building of a parish church in his birthplace – Eziala-Obiangwu in Ngor Okpuala Local Government area in Owerri, Nigeria. This church is yet to be completed.
We have obtained from the parish council of St. Peter Catholic Church, Eziala- Obiangwu, estimates to complete some of the stages of the building project.
The estimates are:
Windows and Doors:  $50,000.00
Flooring:                      $42,000.00
Electrical:                    $25,000.00
Chairs:                         $84,000.00
Painting:                      $25,000.00
Total:                          $226,000.00

At St. Jerome Church & School in Maplewood, Minnesota, Father Peter was concerned about the falling enrollment at the school and was seeking way to improve enrollment at the school. At one point, he talked about the leaky school roof and this became a vital project for him. He had a great admiration of the school children.

It will be good for us all to chip in and assist in any small way that we can to help in the completion of these projects in the memory of Fr. Peter Njoku.

A Memorial Fund has been set up at TCF Bank on behalf of Fr. Peter Chukwuma Njoku. 
We request your indulgence to donate kindly towards this effort.
You can send your donations in any of these three ways:

1:         By Paypal Donations:
To donate, you can click the "Donate" button on the left side of this site.

2:         By Mail:  Please send your donation to:

                        Fr. Peter Chukwuma Njoku’s Memorial Fund
                        P. O. Box 4633
                        St. Paul, MN 55104-9998

3:         By Wire Transfer: You may send your donation by wire transfer directly to the bank account using the following information:

                        Account Name:           Fr. Peter Chukwuma Njoku’s Memorial Fund
                        Account Number:       8852453343
                        Routing Number:        291-070-001

                        Bank Name:                TCF Bank
                        Address:                      1602 New Brighton Blvd.
                                                            Minneapolis, MN 55413

4:         To the Ad Hoc Committee: You may send your donation to any of the members of the Ad Hoc Committee listed below:

            Fortune Ibekwe (Mr.)             (651) 329-5006

           
P. Chinedu Nwaneri (Esq.)     (651) 917-0633

            Nnamdi Njoku (Mr.)               (612) 281-7159

Chris Obasi (Esq.)                   (612) 272-1363

            Isaac N. Obi (Dr.)                   (651) 665-9795

            Vincent Okonkwo(Mr.)          (612) 600-4698

            Richard Oni    Dr.)                  (612) 749-3309

            Larry Ubani (Mr.)                   (651) 917-2090

Tribute/Eulogy

View Tribute from Dr. Anthony Akubue and Dr. Isaac Obi (12.9KB pdf file)

View Eulogy from Dr. & Mrs. Isaac Obi (30.5KB pdf file)

Reflections

View Funeral Reflections from Joseph Nnebedum, Chinenye Ipere, Fr. Dennis Dease, Fr. McDononald (Vicar General) and Deacon Frank Schneider (1.92MB pdf file)