Cameroon native and Catholic convert looks forward to ‘serve the people of God’ as a priest

Note: Archbishop William E. Lori will ordain five men to the priesthood June 18 at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. The following is a profile of one of those future priests. Click here to read profiles of the other new priests. 

When Deacon Peter Kiamo-oh was enrolled at the Catholic Nursery and Primary School in Jakiri, Cameroon, his parents never imagined their son would convert to Catholicism, let alone become a Catholic priest.

Growing up in a pagan family and with a practicing Muslim mother, Deacon Kiamo-oh was not raised in any particular religion. He was attracted to the Catholic faith, however, through the example of teachers and others at his school.

He was received in the Catholic Church at age 12, along with his identical twin brother Deacon Paul Kongnyuy, who was ordained a transitional deacon for the Archdiocese of Baltimore May 21. Now, Deacon Kiamo-oh is set to become a priest for the Archdiocese of Baltimore June 18. 

“The main thing that made me want to become a priest was to preach the word of God,” said Deacon Kiamo-oh, who came to the United States through a partnership with the vocations office of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and church leaders in Cameroon. “The world really needs good preachers, people who preach the truth.”

After finishing primary school in Cameroon, which includes grades one through seven, he wished to become a priest, but his family did not support his decision, which led him to discern his vocation at home for two years.

His Catholic faith not only gave him a vocation, but two spiritual fathers.

“My dad died when I was a young boy,” Deacon Kiamo-oh said. “Father Paul Gerla (of the Diocese of Kumbo) was like a father to me. He always encouraged us to keep moving forward.”

While discerning the priesthood, Deacon Kiamo-oh and his brother met Father Gerla at their home parish, Christ the King, in Jakiri. Father Gerla was a transitional deacon at the time, and encouraged the twins in their priestly vocation by inviting them to join him when serving at several ministries. He also connected them with Ephraim Lukong from the Diocese of Kumbo, who assisted them with enrolling in the seminary.

In 2005, Deacon Kiamo-oh finally enrolled in St. Aloysius Minor Seminary in Kitiwum, Cameroon, where he spent his first seven years of formation.

“I love the faith in my country,” he said. “The faith is very rich, people truly believe in God and go to church.”

Bishop George Nkuo of the Diocese of Kumbo in Cameroon sent him to the United States on a mission. He arrived to the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 2017 to continue his theological studies, where he found another spiritual father.

Monsignor Anthony R. Frontiero, former vice rector and director of human formation at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, became Deacon Kiamo-oh’s spiritual director upon his arrival to the United States and met with him weekly. 

“Monsignor Frontiero encouraged me in a foreign country when I did not know anyone and did not have family members,” Deacon Kiamo-oh said. “If there was anything I needed, he would give it to me. He was like a father to me here.”

Deacon Kiamo-oh enjoys ministering to children, teaching religious education courses, participating in the liturgy and visiting the sick, homebound, nursing homes and hospitals. 

One of his favorite assignments was serving at St. John the Evangelist in Severna Park, where he spent his pastoral year.

“I decided to become a priest because I went to a Catholic school,” Deacon Kiamo-oh said. “I love the ministry of the parish with the school.”

His daily prayers include the rosary and a special devotion to St. Jude, to whom he has prayed for 20 years.

Deacon Kiamo-oh will minister in the Archdiocese of Baltimore during his priesthood and may possibly also serve in Cameroon. He said he looks forward “with joy” to become a spiritual father and to serve at “any place and any parish because being a priest is serving the people of God.” 

Email Priscila González de Doran at pdoran@CatholicReview.org

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