Future priest from Congo has a heart of service

Archbishop William E. Lori will ordain five men to the priesthood June 21 at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland. The following is a profile of one of those future priests. New profiles of the other new priests will be added to the Catholic Review site daily from June 15 to June 20. Click here to read them.

With a heart grounded in faith and a life shaped by global experience, Deacon Bienvenu Ilanga is preparing to serve as a diocesan priest in the Archdiocese of Baltimore – more than 6,000 miles from his native Mbandaka, a city in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“The Archdiocese of Baltimore is one of the best archdioceses that we have in the United States,” Deacon Ilanga said. “It is well known for its hospitality, life of faith, love of prayer and zeal of evangelization.”

Faith has been a vibrant part of Deacon Ilanga’s 46 years of life. It all began in his childhood with his mother bringing him and his eight siblings – five sisters and three brothers – to daily and Sunday Masses as a family. With the church being a five-minute walk from home, Deacon Ilanga was also involved in ministries such as singing in the choir and being an altar server. 

“Thanks be to God I grew up in a strong Catholic family,” he said. 

Growing up in church and attending Masses helped to strengthen his faith over the years. But it was a parish priest who lived an exemplary life of service that inspired him to consider a calling to the priesthood.

“He was a role model for me and my family,” Deacon Ilanga said. “He was a good friend of the family. While growing up at the age of 12, I wanted to be like him.”

After high school, Deacon Ilanga attended St. Augustine College in Congo and Johannesburg, South Africa. He studied theology at Loyola School of Theology in Manila, Philippines, and completed seminary studies at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Roland Park, St. Charles Borromeo Philosophical House of Studies in South Africa, and St. Charles Borromeo Theological House of Studies in the Philippines.

During his studies, he considered becoming a missionary priest in his home country. But after some time, he realized it was not a good fit. Determined to follow God’s vocational call, he decided to become a priest in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

The deacon has been pleasantly surprised by the warm welcome he received from the Baltimore community. He expressed his appreciation for the “generosity, hospitality and support from our seminarians, priests and parishioners” as he prepares for the priesthood.

Deacon Ilanga currently serves as a transitional deacon at St. Joseph in Fullerton. His prior assignments have been at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Crofton; Pastorate of St. Matthew, Northwood, and Blessed Sacrament, Baltimore; St. Charles Borromeo, Pikesville; and St. Gabriel, Woodlawn.

When he is not studying or serving, Deacon Ilanga enjoys a mix of active and leisure activities that include reading, playing soccer, cooking and jogging. 

Years of formation, studies and service have only grown the deacon’s deeply rooted faith as he prepares for a new life of priestly ministry. 

This process has “helped me to grow more in loving God and my neighbor, to develop in me the spirit of service, prayer and humility,” Deacon Ilanga said.

While the priesthood comes with many responsibilities, including celebrating Mass, administering sacraments and spiritual leadership, Deacon Ilanga primarily looks forward to being “in service of people whom I am called to minister.”

“As a priest, I am looking to be a servant,” said the deacon. “From my point of view, it is a servant role – to be there to serve people, especially those who are on the margins of society.”

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