South Ozone Park, NY Author Publishes Book on Nigerian Christianity

The Conflicting Influence of the Christian Messages in Igboland, a new book by Rev. Fr. Michael Kemjika Onyekwere, SDV, has been released by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.

The Conflicting Influence of the Christian Messages in Igboland examines how the homogeneity of a people called the Igbos was destroyed. What they held as sacrosanct degenerated under conflicting and pluralistic Christian messages, thereby replicating the Babel experience in Genesis. With this book, Rev. Fr. Dr. Michael K. Onyekwere, SDV wishes to draw readers' attention to identify the reasons why there is a breakdown of the values that gave identity to Igboland, threatening their identity as one people. He hopes to offer some solutions and leave some room for further work to be done in the area of conflict management and ecumenism.

About the Author
Rev. Fr. Michael Kemjika Onyekwere, SDV, hails from a family of teachers, Thomas and Catherine Onyekwere, along with two brothers and four sisters. He studied at the Dominican Institute of Philosophy and Theology at Ss. Peter and Paul Major Seminary in Ibadan. He completed undergraduate studies at University of Ibadan in Nigeria.

Having come to America in 1990, Rev. Onyekwere studied at Seton Hall University from 1991 to 1992 and Mount Saint Mary's Seminary from 1993 to 1994. He has a diploma in Religious Studies and a BA (1989) in Religious Studies, both from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria; a MA (1993) in theology (Biblical Studies) from Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey; and a M.Div. (1994) from Mt. St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. In addition to these, he has four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) from Howard Community Hospital in Kokomo, Indiana, and more than thirty credits in mathematical studies from Empire State University and some other institutions. He also has a PhD in Theological Studies from the GTF.

Rev. Onyekwere belongs to the Society of Divine Vocations (Vocationist Fathers), a religious family in the Catholic Church. He was ordained as a priest on May 18, 1995. Since then, he has served at various capacities in the parishes and hospitals or places of healthcare and has taught in schools. Presently, he is the pastor of St. Clement Pope Church.

The Conflicting Influence of the Christian Messages in Igboland is a 233-page paperback with a retail price of $18.00. The ISBN is 978-1-6442-6453-9. It was published by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For more information, or to request a review copy, please go to our virtual pressroom at www.dorrancepressroom.com or our online bookstore bookstore.dorrancepublishing.com.