Congratulations to Sylvester Owino

On Saturday, 29 March 2008, Sylvester Odhaimbo Owino was ordained a priest by Archbishop Zaccheus Okoth at Sega.

Sylvester was born in Nairobi on 26 August 1975.

Sylvester at his Perpetual Oath Ceremony

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 missionaries 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. On 26 August 2007, he took his Perpetual Oath in the presence of the General Superior, Fr Anthony Chantry.

Sylvester was ordained a Deacon on 27th October 2007 at Our Lady of Guadalupe,, Adams Arcade, Nairobi.

Sylvester on the day of his diaconate

Sylvester has been appointed to Kotido, Uganda. We wish Sylvester all the best as he prepares to embark on his missionary endeavour as a priest among the Karamajong people in June 2008.

For an account of his ordination to the Priesthood, read Stephen Musyoka's article Called to Serve