Five continue path to priesthood May 5, 2021By Paul McMullen Catholic Review Filed Under: #IamCatholic, Feature, Local News, News, Vocations Five men will be ordained to the transitional diaconate May 15 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland, the penultimate step in their journey to becoming priests of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Three of the men are from Cameroon, a west African nation where the archdiocese began a partnership in 2016. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the 10 a.m. Mass is by invitation only; a livestream will be available at archbalt.org. Capsule biographies of the five, compiled with information provided by the archdiocese, follow. Maurice Afor Maurice Afor Age: 32 Hometown: Nkambe, Cameroon Sponsoring Parish: St. Philip Neri, Linthicum Heights Education: St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Bambui, Cameroon; St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore Pastoral assignments: St. Mary’s, Diocese of Kumbo, Cameroon; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Towson; Catholic Community of South Baltimore; St. Mark, Fallston; Sacred Heart, Glyndon Did you know? Through his discernment, Afor has enjoyed teaching doctrine, visiting the homebound, and bringing Communion to those in hospitals. James M. Bors James M. Bors Age: 60 Hometown: New Carrollton Sponsoring Parish: St. Andrew by the Bay, Annapolis Education: St. Mary’s Parish school, Landover; U.S. Naval Academy; master’s degree from George Washington University; Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg Pastoral assignments: St. Bernardine, Baltimore; Our Lady of Grace, Parkton; St. John, Westminster Did you know? Bors’ wife of 25 years, Shirley, died in 2010. The father of two adult sons, Michael and Jeffrey, Bors served as a naval officer on a Los Angeles-class submarine and taught at the Naval Academy. Peter Kiamo-oh Peter Kiamo-oh Age: 28 Hometown: Jakiri, Cameroon Sponsoring Parish: St. Ursula, Parkville Education: Catholic Primary School in Jakiri; St. Aloysius Minor Seminary, Cameroon; St. John Mary Vianney Spiritual Formation Center, Bafut, Cameroon; St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Bambui, Cameroon; Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg Pastoral assignments: St. Kizito, Melim-Kumbo Diocese, Cameroon; St. Ursula, Parkville; St. Agnes, Catonsville, and St. William of York, Baltimore; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Ellicott City; Our Lady of the Presentation, Poolesvile, Archdiocese of Washington Did you know? Kiamo-Oh is one of seven children, including a twin brother, Paul Kongnyuy, who is also a seminarian for the archdiocese. Kenneth Lukong Kenneth Lukong Age: 30 Hometown: Kumbo, Cameroon Sponsoring Parish: St. Philip Neri, Linthicum Heights Education: St. Aloysius Minor Seminary, Kitiwum, Cameroon; St. John Mary Vianney Spiritual Formation Center, Bafut, Cameroon; St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Bambui, Cameroon; St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore Pastoral assignments: Immaculate Conception, Towson; St. Casimir, Canton; St. Joseph, Cockeysville Did you know? The youngest of seven siblings, Lukong has developed an affinity for visiting the sick and homebound, and teaching, especially in RCIA. David C.F. Ray David C.F. Ray Age: 57 Hometown: Alexandria, Va. Sponsoring Parish: St. Philip Neri, Linthicum Heights Education: Bishop O’Connell High School, Arlington, Va.; George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.; St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore Pastoral assignments: St. Bartholomew, Manchester; St. Francis Xavier, Hunt Valley; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Essex; Immaculate Conception, Towson; St. Isaac Jogues, Carney; St. Louis, Clarksville Did you know? Ray learned his prayers, and Spanish, from his late mother, Ada, who was born in Peru. He spent nearly three decades working for nonprofit agencies. For more information about religious vocations in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, click here. Email Paul McMullen at pmcmullen@CatholicReview.org Also see With 66 seminarians in formation, Archdiocese of Baltimore sees vocations surge Father Gould takes charge with encouragement, kind words and mace in hand Father Michael Heine elected as new president of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men A journey toward Christ and vocation Black Catholic religious sisters grace Baltimore at national event as they seek new members Quo Vadis Baltimore Beyond brings high school students together in faith Archdiocese of Baltimore clarifies norms for Communion ministers Come to the Water: Eucharist boat procession along the Bayou Teche celebrates faith, history National Eucharistic Pilgrimage ‘life-changing,’ created strong community, say pilgrims Copyright © 2021 Catholic Review Media Print
