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A Message from the Very Reverend Jacob J. Yali
 An excited new citizen
Nov 20, 2008
(The following is an article from the Catholic Spirit)
An excited new citizen, Clearwater’s priest casts his first vote
By Maria Wiering
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
For many people, earning citizenship comes years after they have fulfilled the criteria to apply, which may also take years. For Father Jacob Yali, pastor of St. Luke in Clearwater, the final step took only three months.
“I felt that God is in control,” he said of his citizenship’s quicker-than-usual finalization. The first thing that came to his mind was, “Now I can vote” — a thought that filled him with excitement.
Father Yali became a citizen on Sept. 9 after an almost 10-year-long naturalization process. A native of northern Nigeria, Father Yali first came to the United States in 1985 to study chemical dependency. In 1987, he returned to Nigeria, but he came back to the United States in 1999 with plans to stay.
He started the naturalization process that year as he began studies in chaplaincy and chemical dependency counseling at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview.
The opportunity to vote has given me the opportunity to feel part of the amazing things that are happening in this country.
‘Country of opportunity’
Deciding to leave Nigeria was difficult, he said. He was leaving the Diocese of Kafanchan, where he was vicar general for a time. He also missed his family, friends and culture. However, the joy he felt in the United States affirmed his decision to stay, he said.
“It’s a country of opportunity — it’s an awesome country,” he said. “Anybody who is up and doing in this country will succeed.”
He was incardinated into the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and has been the pastor of St. Luke in Clearwater for six years.
Voting was a great honor, Father Yali said. “It’s freedom,” he said. “It’s the most important right today.”
Choosing the right candidate was significant, he said, adding that he paid special attention to issues surrounding the economy, health care, the war in Iraq, national security, foreign policy and taxation.
Father Yali was impressed by the graceful manner in which President-elect Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain respectfully accepted and conceded the presidency, he said.
The next day, United States was peaceful; countries in Africa are often not so lucky, he said. “In other democracies, there would have been fighting and killing and dragging [the election results] to the court,” he said.
“America is very advanced,” he added. “The opportunity to vote has given me the opportunity to feel part of the amazing things that are happening in this country.”
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