• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • Advertising
  • CR Radio
  • Printing
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe

Journey to the priesthood in Baltimore: 9 to be ordained transitional deacons

May 12, 2022
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Vocations

Archbishop William E. Lori will ordain nine men transitional deacons during a 10 a.m. Mass May 21 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. Ordination to the transitional diaconate is the penultimate step toward ordination to the priesthood.

The liturgy is open to the public and will be livestreamed on the YouTube page of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.

Capsule profiles of the men to be ordained follow:

Daniel Acquard

Daniel Acquard

Age: 26 

Hometown: Fulton

Sponsoring parish: Pastorate of St. Francis of Assisi, Fulton, and St. Louis, Clarksville

Education: Hammond Elementary School, Laurel; Hammond Middle School, Laurel; Reservoir High School, Fulton; St. John Paul II Seminary, Washington D.C.; Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg

Pastoral assignments: Immaculate Conception, Towson; Sacred Heart, Glyndon; Institute for Priestly Formation, Omaha, Neb.; Catholic Community of Ascension and St. Augustine, Halethorpe and Elkridge; St. John the Evangelist, Severna Park (pastoral year); Pastorate of St. Francis of Assisi, Fulton, and St. Louis, Clarksville

Did you know? Acquard has two brothers, including an identical twin. He is a chaplain candidate officer (CCPO) in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

John Bilenki

John Bilenki

Age: 27

Hometown: Woodstock

Sponsoring parish: St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, Woodstock

Education: St. Agnes Elementary School, Catonsville; Mount St. Joseph High School, Irvington; Mount St. Mary’s University, Emmitsburg; St Mary’s Seminary and University, Roland Park; Pontifical North American College, Rome

Pastoral assignments: St. Ignatius, Hickory; Our Lady of Victory, Arbutus; St. John the Evangelist, Severna Park

Did you know? Bilenki comes from a musical family and enjoys playing piano and guitar. He served as a tour guide at the Vatican necropolis beneath St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Javier A. Fuentes Cabrera

Javier A. Fuentes Cabrera

Age: 30

Hometown: Frederick (born in San Juan, Puerto Rico)

Sponsoring parish: St. John the Evangelist and St. Joseph-on-Carrollton Manor (Frederick/Buckeystown)

Education: Kendrick High School, Columbus, Ga.; University of Maryland, College Park; St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Roland Park

Pastoral assignments: Esperanza Center, Fells Point; St. Agnes, Catonsville; St. William of York, Baltimore; Resurrection of Our Lord, Laurel; Sacred Heart of Jesus-Sagrado Corazón de Jesús, Highlandtown; St. John, Westminster; University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center, Towson; St. Joseph, Cockeysville; Sacred Heart, Glyndon

Did you know? Cabrera worked at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt in the Planetary Environments Laboratory and assisted with work on the Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity Mars Rover).

Rondall Cantwell Howard III

Rondall Cantwell Howard III

Age: 30

Hometown: Glen Burnie

Sponsoring parish: Christ the King, Glen Burnie

Education: Southgate Elementary, Old Mill Middle North, Millersville; Old Mill High School, Millersville; The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.; Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg

Pastoral assignments: Christ the King, Glen Burnie; Resurrection/St. Paul, Ellicott City; St. Mark, Fallston

Did you know? Howard is a former car mechanic. While in seminary, he traveled to Mexico City to visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and participated in World Youth Day in Panama.

Paul Kongnyuy

Paul Kongnyuy

Age: 29

Hometown: Jakiri, Cameroon

Sponsoring parish:  St. Ursula, Parkville

Education: Catholic Primary School, Jakiri; 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, Roland Park

Pastoral assignments: St. Rita’s Technical High School, Nkambe; St. Bartholomew, Manchester; St. Joan of Arc, Aberdeen; the Catholic Community of Ascension and St. Augustine, Halethorpe and Elkridge; St. John the Evangelist, Frederick; St. Joseph, Buckeystown; Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore

Did you know? Kongnyuy has an identical twin brother, Deacon Peter Kiamo-oh, who was ordained a deacon last year for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He has a personal devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the rosary.

Luke Koski

Luke Koski

Age: 27

Hometown: Perry Hall

Sponsoring parish: Immaculate Conception, Towson

Education: Seven Oaks Elementary, Odenton; Pine Grove Middle School, Baltimore; Calvert Hall College High School, Towson; Towson University; Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg.

Pastoral assignments: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Crofton; Holy Family, Randallstown; Our Lady of Grace, Parkton; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Ellicott City; Christ the King, Glen Burnie

Did you know? Koski has been studying American Sign Language for the past several years. His parents, Matt and Patti, started a camp for children with autism. Koski and his three siblings assisted with the camp.

Felix Mmuoh

Felix E. Mmuoh

Age: 30

Hometown: Ufuma, Anambra State, Nigeria

Sponsoring parish: St. Clare, Essex

Education: Demonstration Primary School, Awka; St. Dominic Savio Minor Seminary, Akpu; St. John Bosco Minor Seminary, Isuaniocha; Holy Family Spiritual Formation Center Okpuno-Awka; Bigard Memorial Major Seminary, Enugu; Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Emmitsburg

Pastoral assignments: St Clare, Essex; St. Ignatius of Loyola, Ijamsville; St. John, Westminster.

Did you know? Mmuoh is the fourth of five siblings. He enjoys teaching the Scriptures and visiting the sick and homebound. He has a cousin who is a nun.

Nicholas Mwai

Nicholas Mwai

Age: 43

Hometown: Nanyuki, Kenya

Education: Garrison Primary School, Kenya; Nanyuki High School, Kenya; Kenya Red Cross Training Institute; St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Roland Park

Pastoral assignments: Sacred Heart, Glyndon; Holy Family, Randallstown; St. Ursula, Parkville; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Crofton; St. Ignatius, Hickory

Did you know? It was while serving as a paramedic in Kenya that Mwai felt called to the priesthood. He was also a monk in a Benedictine monastery in New Mexico prior to joining the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

Sampson Onwumere

Sampson Onwumere

Age: 36

Hometown: Okigwe, Imo State, Nigeria

Sponsoring parish: St. Isaac Jogues, Parkville

Education: Aku Central School, Nigeria; St. Peter’s Seminary, Okigwe, Nigeria; Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Owerri, Nigeria; Bigard Memorial Major Seminary, Enugu, Nigeria; St. Leo University, St. Leo, Fla.

Pastoral assignments: Catholic Community of South Florida; St. Bartholomew, Manchester; Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, Bel Air; Our Lady of the Chesapeake, Lake Shore; St. Ignatius, Hickory

Did you know? Onwumere loves listening to music. He comes from a family of six. In ministry, he loves being present to people, serving them and sharing the joy of his faith with them.

Email George P. Matysek Jr. at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org

Read More Vocations News

Baltimore native to be ordained Jesuit priest

Sulpicians elect Father Daniel Moore as provincial superior

Archdiocese of Baltimore ordains 9 transitional deacons

St. Mary’s Seminary charters its first Knights of Columbus council – named after alumnus who founded the Knights

‘Embracing vulnerability,’ sisters hope to draw strength, help others

Archbishop Lori to celebrate Mass for World Day of Prayer for Vocations

Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

George P. Matysek Jr.

George Matysek, a member of the Catholic Review staff since 1997, has served as managing editor since September 2021. He previously served as a writer, senior correspondent, assistant managing editor and digital editor of the Catholic Review and the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

In his current role, he oversees news coverage of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and is a host of Catholic Review Radio.

George has won more than 100 national and regional journalism and broadcasting awards from the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association, the Catholic Press Association, the Associated Church Press and National Right to Life. He has reported from Guyana, Guatemala, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

A native Baltimorean, George is a proud graduate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School in Essex. He holds a bachelor's degree from Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore and a master's degree from UMBC.

George, his wife and five children live in Rodgers Forge. He is a parishioner of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

Latest Local News

Close of Year of the Eucharist will be celebrated at Cathedral of Mary Our Queen

Baltimore native to be ordained Jesuit priest

Sulpicians elect Father Daniel Moore as provincial superior

Former St. Rita School teacher dies

Archdiocese of Baltimore ordains 9 transitional deacons

Latest World News

Church presence in Uvalde, Texas, gives strength, love, archbishop says

Mary, Star of the Sea, protects mariners and is guide for all, bishop says

Bishops push gun control; some call mass shootings ‘pressing life issue’

Remembering Buffalo shooting victims, Catholics pray for end to racism

Pope prays for Texas shooting victims, calls for stricter gun laws

Catholic Review Radio

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Close of Year of the Eucharist will be celebrated at Cathedral of Mary Our Queen
  • MOVIE REVIEW: Top Gun: Maverick
  • MOVIE REVIEW: The Bob’s Burgers Movie
  • Church presence in Uvalde, Texas, gives strength, love, archbishop says
  • Mary, Star of the Sea, protects mariners and is guide for all, bishop says
  • Bishops push gun control; some call mass shootings ‘pressing life issue’
  • Baltimore native to be ordained Jesuit priest
  • Sulpicians elect Father Daniel Moore as provincial superior
  • Finding solace in faith after shootings provide another reminder of horrific day

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2022 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED