Aba Diocesan Catholic Priest Selected Among 50 Top Catholic Influencers to Visit Holy Land

Rev. Fr. James Anyaegbu

By Polycarp Ifeanyi, Onitsha

A Catholic priest of the Aba Diocese, Rev. Fr. James Anyaegbu, has been selected among fifty (50) top Catholic influencers worldwide chosen to visit the Holy Land.

Speaking on the development, Fr. Anyaegbu disclosed that the Dicastery for Communication in Rome contacted him to inform him of his selection.

He explained that from the fifty Catholic influencers initially chosen, only fifteen (15) priests were to be granted permission to participate in the pilgrimage.

“After the selection, the Dicastery reached out to me and informed me that my name was among the top fifty Catholic influencers selected to visit the Holy Land. Out of the fifty, only fifteen priests were required, and they sought my consent to be among the fifteen priests chosen for the journey,” he said.

Fr. Anyaegbu noted that the visit is designed as a digital missionary retreat aimed at strengthening evangelization efforts through modern communication platforms.
He explained that the pilgrimage was initially scheduled for February 16, 2026, but has been postponed due to tensions around Tel Aviv and uncertainties surrounding airline operations.

According to him, the visit has now been shifted to a date after Easter, although the exact timing has not yet been confirmed.

The priest, who is the Director of the Faith-Chat Platform, further revealed that he currently serves in the Diocese of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom.

He stated that Faith-Chat is a registered charitable organization operating both in Scotland and Nigeria, with outreach extending to several African countries including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria, as well as communities in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and other parts of Europe.

“We engage in charity work and online prayer sessions with different communities across the world. While our prayers are conducted online, our charity works are carried out physically. We also organize physical gatherings in the form of retreats. These retreats are held in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Nigeria. Every year, we organize annual retreats both in the United States and in Nigeria,” Fr. Anyaegbu explained.

Advising fellow Catholic priests, Fr. Anyaegbu emphasized the importance of discipline, intentionality, and resourcefulness in ministry.
He noted that young people today are searching for credible spiritual leaders who can answer their questions and guide them authentically to Jesus Christ.
He also urged young people to seek God first through Jesus Christ, trust in Him, and do their part faithfully.
“Human beings may plant and water, but it is God who gives the increase,” he added.
The announcement of Fr. Anyaegbu’s selection generated great excitement when it was made public during the opening-year prayer meeting of the Faithspiration Initiative held at Iba Pope Awada Parish.
Members of the congregation expressed joy and gratitude to God, praising Him for granting Fr. Anyaegbu the wisdom and inspiration to spread the Gospel through social media.

Speaking at the event, the Founder of Faithspiration Initiative, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. George Adimike, described Fr. Anyaegbu as a dynamic and committed missionary priest.
He remarked that “the sky is only the starting point” for Fr. Anyaegbu, whom he described as a priest with a unique missionary spirit.
Fr. Adimike stated that Fr. Anyaegbu truly deserves the honor, noting that he is focused, determined, and deeply committed to serving God through his natural talents and effective use of social media.
He further commended him as an indigene of Awka-Etiti and thanked him for consistently empowering members of the Faithspiration Initiative with words of encouragement that strengthen their faith in God.