October 24, 2007

Dear Parishioners of Saint Stephen,

Greetings and best regards in the Lord!

Permit me to express my profound gratitude to God and Bishop Joseph Galante for assigning me here in Saint Stephen Community! My words of thanks to Fr. Edward Lipinski, the administrator.

As I begin my new assignment among you after four years of a very affectionate, loving journey of faith and service with the Christians of Saint Joseph, Swedesboro, I feel honored to share my background with you. I know that whenever I am in a new place and I am asked to introduce myself the next question is “Where are you from?” since my Ugandan accent betrays me immediately. I hope this will help to defuse those inevitable questions!

I am from Uganda, East Africa and a member of the Religious Missionary Order of the Apostles of Jesus: the first male African Religious Missionary order founded in Uganda in 1968 by the Late Bishop Sisto Mazzoldi, Mccj and Fr.John Maregonia, Mccj.We are now numbered about 370 members in Africa, Europe and United States of America.

I was born on May 30^th, 1965 to my loving dad Mathew Oler Akera 95 yrs and of happy memory my beloved mother Magdalene Ozelle 82 yrs deceased October 4^th, 2006.

I am the first born in a family of four brothers and three deceased sisters all in Uganda.

My calling to the priesthood started while I was still young boy serving as an Altar boy. My parents told me that I used to gather other kids and play the role of a priest saying Mass in Latin.

It was therefore not a surprise to my parents that in 1983 while in High school I expressed the desire to join the seminary. A dream come true, I was ordained to the priesthood March 12^th, 1994 to the joy of my father and mother who were at my side that day! I owe the gift of my priesthood to my parents who brought me up in a very religious environment of morning prayers, Grace over meals, daily Rosary in the evening and night prayers before you retire to bed. Attending daily Masses on Sundays and weekdays was unquestionable for my dad less you risked going without food. That was what we gotten used to as I was growing probably because my father saw in us an answer to his long quest and prayers to God for the gift of children. He was growing in years and yet he was becoming a laughing stock without an heir of his own!

After my ordination, I worked first in our minor Seminary Moroto, Uganda as a teacher and mentor. I was later sent to Saint Charles Lwanga Parish, Kicwamba Uganda as a Parochial Vicar for four years after which I was appointed a Pastor of Orussi Catholic Parish, Nebbi Diocese in Uganda till my new assignment to Saint Joseph, Swedesboro in October 2003.

It’s that initial journey of faith that today has brought me to begin a new chapter among you. A chapter of sharing the gift of my faith to you, for you and with you! A chapter of continuing together with Fr. Ed, you and I to “live as a Catholic Community Called by baptism to live the Gospel by loving and serving all our brothers and sisters” I am grateful to be here. My wish is that just like Saint Joseph, Swedesboro was a “home far away from home”, Saint Stephen will be my new home far away from home! May the Good Lord bless and reward you all! Thank you.

Reverend Fr.Vincent Orum, AJ