Welcome to the Family

On Sunday, 26 August 2007, Sylvester Odhaimbo Owino became the latest perpetual member of St. Joseph's Missionary Society, joining the ranks of so many who have dedicated their lives to the work of building God's Kingdom around the world.

Sylvester was born in Nairobi on 26 August 1975. For him, 26 August will always be a memorable day: recalling the day he was born into his immediate family as well as into the Mill Hill family.

For Sylvester, it had been a very long journey to this important day. He started his formation in Luanda, Kenya in 1998 after finishing his primary and secondary education in Sega. It was during the later part of his secondary education that he began to seriously reflect on becoming a Mill Hill missionary, especially through the stories he heard about the missioanries in the area.

After a year in basic formation, he went on to the first cycle of formation in Jinja, Uganda in 1999 and after finishing his philosophical studies there, in 2002 he went to St. Joseph's College, Mill Hill for his theological studies. In June 2004, he took his Temporary Oath to the society for three years before departing for Uganda for his Missionary Experience Programme at Panyangara Parish in Kotido. After two years there, in 2006, he continued with his theological studies in Nairobi. The Second Cycle of Formation for the Mill Hill students was moved from London to Nairobi in 2005. Sylvester renewed his Temporary Oath for another year in May 2007 in Nairobi. His theological studies will finish by March 2008.