Two wonderful people, my father, Chief Simon Essien Stim, and my mother, Mma Theophilia Simn Etim, brought me in to a family of 6 children, 3 sisters and 2 brothers. I am the middle child, and the first son! The joy of my parent’s life, they named me “Akaninyen”, which means “more precious than gold”. In 1985, our beloved father died. His death remains the hardest thing to accept. Anyone who knows our family also knows that I am my father’s Son!
 
Because my father was a teacher by profession and a school administrator, involved in the management of many institutions of learning, and my mother was a school teacher, our family moved quite a bit. As a result, I attended more than a few grade schools. I graduated from Queen of Apostles Seminary, Afaha Obong, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria (a high school Seminary) in 1983. From ’83-’85, I attended the equivalent of a Community College, taking courses to prepare me to study law, one of my loves! But, in 1986, I chose to begin formation for the priesthood in my Diocese of Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria. I enrolled in Seat of Wisdom Major Seminary, Owerri, Nigeria, an affiliate of the Pontifical Urbania University, Rome, Italy, and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1990.
 
In the fall of 1992, the providence of God led me to the Diocese of Rockford. In 1995, I attended Mount St. Mary’s University & Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland and graduated in 1998.
 
I was ordained a Catholic priest on May 16, 1998. My first assignment was at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Crystal Lake, IL (’98-’00). I was then assigned to St. Peter in Geneva (’01-’04), St. Patrick in St. Charles (’04-’09) and St. Thomas the Apostle (’09-present).
 
 I thank God for choosing to call me to be His priest in spite of my manifest unworthiness. I thank the people of the Rockford Diocese, each and every one whose paths I’ve crossed, especially parishioners of the parishes I have had the privilege of serving. It is because of their encouragement, and the good that they see in me that keeps me a priest today, nothing else! God has truly used these people to console and strengthen me, and during difficult times, God has reminded me to pay attention to the people I have served, who love me and think the world of me…to them I say I love you too and think the world of you! And to God I give the Glory! Amen!