Two take another step toward priesthood

GUYANA

Two young men—seminarian Brother Joseph Oguejiofor and Jesuit scholastic Joel Thompson SJ are now a step closer to the priesthood.

Bishop Francis Alleyne OSB of Georgetown conferred the Order of Lector on Nigeria-born Oguejiofor who joined the minor seminary in Nigeria in 1991, studying philosophy there from 1998 to 2002 before he joined the Georgetown diocese in 2017.

He immediately entered the Seminary of St John Vianney and the Uganda Martyrs, Mt St Benedict, Trinidad for his theological preparation. Bro Oguejiofor left Guyana August 16 to continue those studies and is expected to return May 2020.

After training and working as an Electrical Engineer, Thompson joined the Jesuits in 2011, according to a Catholic Standard report. After a two-year novitiate in Birmingham, England, he made vows in Guyana in 2013. He then completed a BA (Hons) in Philosophy and Theology at Heythrop College, University of London, UK.

The article further stated that Thompson has just completed the period of Jesuit formation known as ‘regency’ which involves two years of full-time apostolic work in the Society of Jesus.

“He was based at St Ignatius in the central Rupununi and worked mainly in youth ministry and in the promotion of Pope Francis’ letter on the environment called Laudato Si’,” the article stated.

Thompson left Guyana to pursue a Masters of Divinity at the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University in Berkeley, California, USA, his final period of studies which is required for his ordination to the priesthood.