From left: Deacon Jose Carlos Miguel Lopez, Glenmary President Father Dan Dorsey, Deacon Kenneth Wandera and Deacon Samuel Mungai smile after the deacons’ collective ordinations in June. The men will be ordained priests March 20.
Bishop J. Mark Spalding of Nashville, Tenn., ordained three men as priests for the Glenmary Home Missioners on Saturday, March 20, in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Father Samuel Mungai
Father Samuel Mungai is from Nakuru, a city three hours northwest of Nairobi. Father Samuel says a deep desire to serve God as a missionary impelled him to serve in a “distant land.” He adds, “It’s been such a long yet marvelous journey.” He serves at Glenmary’s Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Martin County, N.C.
Father Kenneth Wandera
Father Kenneth comes from Busia, Kenya, which sits just across the border from Busia, Uganda. Father Kenneth was inspired by the work of early Dutch missionaries in Kenya and felt the need to “go where the need is greatest.” He serves at Glenmary’s St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Unicoi County, Tenn.
Father José Lopez
Father José was born in Villa Comaltitlan, in southern Mexico. He learned of the home mission need through a chance encounter with a visiting Glenmarian. “I was impressed by what he told me and a few years later I chose to join Glenmary instead of my diocese,” he says. Father José serves Glenmary’s Holy Spirit mission in Bertie County, N.C. and St. Joan of Arc in Washington County, N.C.