Gregory Ejiogu Umunna
I was born in Eziama-Ubulu, South East Nigeria 1968 during the Biafra war that raged between 1967-1970 and claimed the lives of over three million people including my immediate older brother Cajetan. My life
was spared through divine providence. My parents were devout Catholics, and this gave me both stability and an early start in my faith identity. This religious home atmosphere and faith identity soon developed, very early in my life into a niggling yearning for service in the vocation to the priesthood. This desire grew bigger and eventually lured me into embarking on the journey into the training for the priesthood. I earned a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy in 1992, a bachelor’s degree in Theology in 1997 all from Urban University, Rome and was ordained a Catholic priest on the 23rd of August, 1997. After my ordination, I served as Parish Priest of St. Thomas parish Nkwerre and Holy Trinity parish Omuma both in Imo-State, Nigeria for six years.
From 2003, I was engaged with the study and research on Christian theological ethics of Care as it relates
to issues underpinning human life and health. Within this area, I earned a Licentiate Moral Theology, from
the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, a Master of Science in Dementia Studies from Stirling
University, UK and a Doctorate in Theology from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium in 2009
with a research in Health Care Ethics.
I have since then applied my practical and speculative knowledge in these areas to wherever I have been
privileged to be asked to serve. I was a two-term (2015-2022) board member of the Anscombe Bioethics
Centre Oxford, London, a think tank Centre in all bioethical issues, on behalf of Catholic Bishop’s Conferences of Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. I represented the
Catholic Bishop’s Conference of Scotland. With other members of the Board, among other things, the task
was to provide a framework for an opinion on all relevant bioethical subjects, define such subjects and so
make the voice and opinions of the Roman Catholic Church in the United Kingdom on such matters distinct and clear.
Have also been involved with research on the Theological ethical challenges involved in the health care
sector and collaborated with St. Ninian’s Institute, Dundee, and Grove Academy Dundee and convened
the yearly St. Stephen’s conferences since 2013 till date.
Besides academic works, I have been very privileged to serve in the area of Practical theology. From 2010
to 2013, I served as assistant parish priest in the cluster of parishes of St. Bride’s Monifieth, St. Annes’s
Carnoustie and St. Thomas’ Arbroath. From 2013 to date, I have been serving as parish priest, to the over
600 parishioners of St. Luan’s, St. Stephen’s and St. Mary’s churches in the three towns of Alyth,
Blairgowrie and Couper Angus respectively in the lovely Perthshire end of Scotland. It has been a great
privilege for which I am most thankful. It means that I could engage through a pastoral duty of care with
my parishioners, the Staff and Pupils of St. Stephen’s primary school Blairgowrie as well the residents of
the five Nursing Homes within these three towns where we form one ABC family.
Besides the daily administration of sacraments to my parishioners, some very remarkable events: In 2015,
when I was tasked with sourcing funds for the restoration and renewal of a ‘B’ Listed dilapidated 1856 St.
Stephen’s Church Blairgowrie. I headed the project and not only raised £507,000 from Heritage Lottery
Funds, Historic Environment Scotland and other allied Trusts but also delivered this historic and
momentous project by July 2018 with a grand ceremony of the dedication of the church. I also initiated and Coordinated a programme on Intergenerational dementia initiative with St. Stephen’s Primary School in Blairgowrie, Perthshire as part of Dementia Friendly Community awareness.
My vision of life is based on one humanity and a transformative Christianity as a tool. My aim is always to
bring my drive for evidence and result based approach to critical theological/religious thinking and practice to underlie whatever task at hand and while working in collaboration with others. I enjoy some quality time for personal reflection, some tennis, listening to music as well as walking to help at the end of the day.
Working Experiences:
2013 – to date. Parish Priest, St Stephen’s RC Church Blairgowrie, St. Luan’s RC Church Alyth, St. Mary’s RC Church Coupar Angus; Dementia Support Worker: Beach Manor Care Home.
2010 – 2013: Research fellow: St. Ninian’s Institute Dundee, United Kingdom.
2010 – 2013: Assistant Parish Priest, St Bride’s Monifieth, Dundee.
2003 – 2009: Post Graduate Studies/Research. Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
1997 – 2003: Parish Priest, Holy Trinity Parish Omuma, Nigeria
1992 – 1993: Teacher: St. Mary’s Umuowa, Box 430, Orlu, Nigeria.
1987 – 1988: Teacher: St. Mary’s Umuowa, Box 430, Orlu, Nigeria.
Academic Qualifications:
B. A (Philosophy) Urban University, Rome. 1992.
B. A (Theology) Urban University, Rome. 1997
M. A (Religious Studies) Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. 2004
S.T.L (Theological Ethics) Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. 2005
M.Sc. (Dementia Studies) University of Stirling, United Kingdom. 2018
Ph. D. (Theological Ethics) Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium 2009.
Publications:
- Gregory Ejiogu Umunna, HIV/AIDS: Political Will and Hope. (Bloomington, USA, Xlibris
Publishers), 2011. (ISBN: 978-4628-6935-0), May 2011.
Summary note: HIV/AIDS: Political Will and Hope, demonstrates that the scourge of the AIDS, flourishes within the weaknesses of the Nigerian state and in the deficiencies of socio-cultural, economic and political constructs. The abovementioned structures have nurtured a culture and politics of neglect, inequalities and marginalisation of disempowered and subordinated children, men and more especially women. These disease-prone circumstances expose human behavioural weaknesses and the limitations in the government structures as well as poor implementation of policies especially within the health care sector. The result is the inefficiencies, insufficiencies and inadequacies in the HIV/AIDS preventive as well as care and support programmes. It therefore makes clear that for the Nigerian state to prove itself in the present scourge of AIDS, it would have to exert all its political will in order to construct a proper caring responsibility as a basic attitude for her citizenry in general and for her overwhelming HIV/AIDS patients in particular. This is a challenge to a health-care reform and an adequate caring responsibility for people living with AIDS. To do this effectively, this book recommends a few steps. - Gregory Ejiogu Umunna, On the Way to the Kingdom, (Orlu, Nigeria, ChimaVin Press), October 2002.
- Gregory Ejiogu Umunna, The Christian Family: A Springboard to Salvation. (Enugu, Nigeria,
Pearl Function Publishers), November 2000.
Summary note: The book argues that many are Saints today; many would be saints; that is would
be saved through the seed of faith and virtue planted and nurtured by their family, while many
may be deficient of every grace and nobility of character. The family is therefore a springboard
to salvation. Issues bordering on marriage and its properties, mutual co-operation and
responsibilities of the members of the family, respect for human life, family prayers spiritualities
and apostolate, modern evils confronting the family et cetera find concise attention.
Recommendable for family moral instructions, it is a handbook for marriage instructors,
catechists, priests and teachers who are committed to both religious and social work. - Gregory Ejiogu Umunna, ‘‘Gender Inequality and HIV/AIDS’’ in Human Rights, ed. African
Ecclesial Review, vol. 52 no. 4 and vol. 53 no. 1 (2011), pp. 195-218. (ISBN: 0250-4650),
2011.
Summary note: This article reawakens the urgency to address the oppressive patriarchal elements
that dispose women to contract HIV. Although patriarchal elements die hard, this writer calls upon
the concerned stakeholders to redress these anomalies by rewriting the scripts that society reads and
weed out subjugation of women with the seriousness it deserves. - Gregory Ejiogu Umunna, ‘‘Social Justice and HIV/AIDS in Africa,’’ in Human Rights ed.
African Ecclesial Review, vol. 52 no. 4 and vol. 53 no. 1 (2011), pp. 171-194. (ISBN: 0250-
4650), 2011.
Summary note: This article unveils the caring concept which is an ethical responsibility to every
human being. The writer argues that human life should not be endangered, wasted, exploited, or
violated since, the centrality of the human person revolves around the care given to people in need,
especially the people living with HIV/AIDS who have faced rejection and stigmatisation over time. - Gregory Ejiogu Umunna, “Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria: Ethical Evaluation of People’s
Reactions to HIV/AIDS Crisis and the Moral Responsibility to Care in the Light of Love of
Neighbour,” in Gift and Struggle, Trajectories of the Christian Life in Nigeria, ed. Martin-
Edward Ohajunwa and Gilbert Alaribe (Owerri, Nigeria, Assumpta Press, (2007), pp. 77-125,
2007. - Gregory Ejiogu Umunna, ‘‘The Year of Faith as a Moment of Spiritual Grace: An Invitation,
an Opportunity and a Challenge,’’ in The Forum, Orlu, Nigeria, November 18, (2012), pt.1,
p.10, 2012. - Gregory Ejiogu Umunna, ‘‘The Year of Faith as a Moment of Spiritual Grace: An Invitation,
an Opportunity and a Challenge,’’ in The Forum, Orlu, Nigeria, December 2, (2012), pt. 2, p.11,
2012. - Gregory Ejiogu Umunna, ‘‘The Place of Domus Clero in the Fabric of Orlu Diocesan Health
Care Apostolate: Fulfilling and Continuing the Healing Mission of Jesus Christ,’’ Orlu Diocesan
Journal, Orlu, Nigeria, August 2023.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Medical and Health-Care Ethics.
- Ethical and socio-anthropological questions and Implications for Health Care
- Themes on the transformative nature of religions/theology.
- Practical Theology
Father Gregory E. Umunna
Address: St. Stephen’s RC Church, 8 Bank Street Blairgowrie PH10 6DE.
E-mail: peacegreg2002@yahoo.com Phone – 01250872171
Parish website: https://www.st-stephens-blairgowrie.org.uk/