Our Clergy

Fr. Emmanuel Bassey, ordained in December 30, 2014, is originally a priest of the Archdiocese of Calabar, Nigeria. He was born and raised in Calabar as the only surviving child to his parents. Fr. had his primary education at the Sacred Heart Cathedral International Nursery School, Calabar, and his secondary education was at Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary, Mfamosing.

Upon completion of his secondary education, Fr. Emmanuel attended St. Joseph Major Seminary, Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria, where he had his priestly formation. There he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology, all issued by the Pontifical Urban University, Rome. In addition, Fr. holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from the University of Uyo, Nigeria, and a Licentiate in Biblical Theology from the University of Navarra, Spain. Presently, he is in the concluding phase of his Doctorate in Biblical Studies with the Catholic University of America, Washington D.C.

Fr. Emmanuel’s vocation story is one of the unusual ones. He was born into a Catholic family, with two Nuns and a Priest. The first two years of his childhood were spent in a convent with his grand-aunt, who was then a Superior General and pioneer member of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus (HHCJ), an indigenous female religious congregation in Nigeria. Growing up there as a favorite of his grand-aunt, and surrounded by the affection and company of so many nuns, Fr. had the flame of religious life already lit in him. However, tragedies struck in the early years of his life; his grand-aunt died when he was five years old. The following year, he lost his only sibling and his mother, all in quick succession. These tragic losses impacted Fr’s life negatively, as he became a lonely child with so much misfortune. The Church and all the daily religious activities became his solace; they were his escape from loneliness and pain. At the age of eight, he started serving at the Altar in the Sacred Heart Cathedral of Calabar, which happens to be his home parish. There he assisted the priests in the myriad of liturgical services held in the Cathedral. Thus, the seed of his vocation was sown. 

Attending to the services of the Altar also endeared Fr. Emmanuel to many persons and families, and the Altar and Church became ordinarily his convenient space and comfort. Interestingly, in the Church Fr. Emmanuel now had so many families and people in his life to make up for the biological siblings and family that he lost. At the age of nine, his father, who remains the lone member of his biological family, enrolled him in the Minor Seminary. From there Fr. proceeded to the Major Seminary for the complete formation to the Priesthood, and on December 30, 2014, he was ordained a Catholic Priest to the glory of God.
Since his ordination, Fr. Emmanuel has served in a variety of roles: a Pastor in his home Diocese of Calabar, seminary instructor, and secretary to the Archbishop of Calabar. He also served as confessor at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal, and collaborator in the Archdiocese of Pamplona and Tudela, Spain. Fr. was an Associate Pastor in different parishes in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He now joins us here in Sacred Heart Parish after serving as Canonical Administrator of the parishes of St. Patrick Corning and Lenox.
Fr. Emmanuel has a passion for research and writing. He also enjoys various forms of arts, music, and he plays lawn tennis and table tennis.

Through his years of pastoral services, Fr. Emmanuel has come to the daily understanding that the Priesthood is indeed a gift from God. He feels humbled that mere mortals like him have been granted this rare privilege of being God’s instrument to the world, hence his maxim: “We are instruments in the hands of God.”

As he looks forward to his ministry here in Sacred Heart West Des Moines, he comes with a desire to be a part of God’s Family that is already seeking for divine renovation. Fr. prays to be God’s instrument of peace and consolation to all he encounters. And he yearns to offer himself in worthwhile service to the flock of Christ, with the hope of journeying with them through the challenging times of our world.