Cameroonian Deacon Lukong wants to ‘be there’ for people

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. 

Deacon Kenneth Lukong considered studying modern letters or becoming a journalist, but as he looked at all those possibilities, he decided to follow the one he thought would bring him the most inner joy and fulfillment would be the priesthood.

“That was my driving force,” he said, noting that this path would allow him to “be there for the people of God.”

Through a partnership between his home Diocese of Kumbo, Cameroon, he was selected to study in the Archdiocese of Baltimore at St. Mary’s Seminary in Roland Park. After his ordination, he will work for at least five years in the archdiocese before determining whether he wishes to stay here or return to Cameroon.

“Right now I’m open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and we’ll see what five years will have to offer,” he said.

His parents are Mariana Berngeh and the late Florian Tabiy Lukong. As the youngest of seven siblings – five brothers and one sister – Deacon Lukong was very involved in his parish when he was growing up, including the youth group, altar servers and playing instruments for the choir. His brother, Julius, and a cousin are trying to get visas so they can attend his ordination to the priesthood June 18.

Deacon Lukong’s path to the priesthood has taken him through four seminaries – three in Cameroon before attending St. Mary’s Seminary and University. Each seminary helped in various ways, building him to become the person he is.

“For instance, in the St. Aloysius Minor Seminary (in Kitiwum, Cameroon), I went there when I was still a very young guy, so it had to build in me, cultivate in me that love for Jesus Christ and the church,” he said.

One of the priests he met on that journey was “very instrumental in my life,” the soon-to-be priest said of Father Anthanasius Sangnyuy Wirsiy, who wrote an approval letter for him. 

“Three years later, he became the rector. He has always been there for me. He’s someone I look up to and he has been a very good elder brother to me personally,” Deacon Lukong said. 

Judith Kibuh, a parishioner of St. Lawrence Martyr in Hanover, first met Deacon Lukong when he came to the archdiocese to study at the seminary. From their first encounter at the monthly Mass for the Cameroonian Catholic community, they became “fast friends” especially because they hail from the same region and speak the same native tongue, Lamnso, she said.

She said Deacon Lukong “has always been clear about his vocation to the priesthood. He told me about his challenges growing up and how he was able to overcome by the grace of God. I remember in a conversation he told me, ‘I believe that my purpose is to serve the community in the way Christ served his community; He saved me for this reason.’” 

Kibuh added that he is always very prayerful, available to assist at any prayer requests or Masses and is eager to help, going out of his way to ensure that others around him are comfortable.

With Deacon Lukong’s friendliness, honesty and calm and prayerful nature, she expects he will be a great listener and counselor and well-loved by his parishioners, leading people to God by his daily living.

“Deacon Lukong is a constant reminder to me that Christ does indeed move in our midst,” Kibuh said.

She noted that he is loved in the Cameroonian community in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. where he not only assists at the altar but also plays music during the Masses.

“Deacon Lukong has prayed with many families during their times of grief and in times of thanksgiving and joy,” Kibuh said.

During his preparations for the priesthood, Deacon Lukong has served in several different parishes, and has done some hospital, nursing home and home visits. He is looking forward to parish ministry as a priest. 

“I won’t say it wasn’t without difficulties. There were times it was tough,” he said. “There were times I wanted to consider other options, but above all, the greater option I had was the one that gave me more joy, the one I found more fulfillment in and the one I thought I would be able to be there for the people of God.” 

He knows that ministering as a priest will be different from ministering as a seminarian or deacon.

“I’m open to whatever parishioners will need and they want me to do. I will be open to doing all of that and I enjoy doing that.”

Email Christopher Gunty at editor@CatholicReview.org.

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