Missioners Serving in Our Diocese:
To read more about Fr. Zawadi, you can find more of his story in our newsletters. Look in Spring 2021, Spring 2023.
Fr. Kambale Sambya Zawadi Jean-Marie, OSC - Crosiers of Onamia
Father Zawadi was born in Democratic Republic of the Congo. In his life, he will never forget the time when he was a kid, his father used to say to him, “you have to work very hard, to dream big and not stop trying.’’ After he asked him what he wanted to be in the future, spontaneously he answered, ‘ I will be a priest’’ He didn’t not know at the time that this is what was meant for him. His first contact with the Crosier Fathers and Brothers was in Kyondo when he was 17 years old and Fr. Jan Koopman, OSC, told him about Crosier religious Life. He became a solemnly professed member of the Order in 2010 and ordained priest in 2012 by the Most Rev. Monsignor Melchizedek Paluku Sikuli, Bishop of the Diocese of Butembo. In the Congo, he was the formation director for Crosier postulants in Mulo and financial secretary at the Center of listening and Psychological accompaniment. He was also one of the leaders of ADIMIRU ( Agence de Developement Integral en Milieu Rural), an agency established to promote the culture of peace and development. He is now living in the Crosier Priory in Onamia MN, and is serving as Development Director for the Crosier Fathers and Brothers. He has been working hard to fundraise for a new school that is being built in Butembo. He is pictured with school girls in Butembo.
Fr. Oswaldo Roche - Diocese of St. Cloud
My name is Fr. Oswaldo Roche. I am part of the Diocesan Partnership between my Diocese of Maracay in Venezuela and the Diocese of Saint Cloud, in Minnesota. My mission here began in October 2012, serving the Hispanic community at St. Joseph's Parish in Waite Park, Assumption in Morris, St. Boniface in Cold Spring, and St. Mary's in Melrose. Since then, I have been able to attend other communities, such as St. Leonard’s in Pelican Rapids, and currently, St. Andrew in Elk River and Immaculate Conception in Rockville. As for the English-speaking communities, I am currently the Parochial Vicar of the ACC “Together as One” in the parishes, St. Michael, St. Joseph in Waite Park, St. Peter and Saint Paul, in Saint Cloud.
Jesus Christ, missionary of the Father, came to announce the Good News of salvation to all peoples. In this month of the missions, all humanity must receive the message of love, brotherhood, charity, forgiveness and reconciliation that Jesus left us on the Cross.
At this time the prayer of the Holy Rosary, with a missionary sense, helps us to meet other cultures, opening our hearts to others who are different from us, with other languages and customs. I can bear witness to what I have seen and heard. I have seen people with great faith, surrendered to divine providence; sharing the faith, going to mass, asking for the sacraments. I have also heard the cry of hearts, who suffer to see that their families are separated, that there are many who want to help their families who live in other countries and have many needs.
Being a missionary has taught me to live with people very different from me, in race, food, language, customs. My first challenge was the cold, in my hometown, the highest temperature is 115 ° F and the lowest is 65° F. When I started to feel that the highest here was -10 ° F, I said that I would not live through it. Then the food, the hot pepper is optional and many times it remains complete on the table. When I got here, and ate the first bite, I thought it was hell, (of course every missionary should eat whatever they put before him) even if he spent three days in the bathroom. The last challenge was to understand not only the different language, in this case, English, but also the idiomatic nuances of Spanish, since when I spoke, not even Hispanics understood me. It is not the same to say "torta" in my country, which means "Cake", than to say, "Torta" in Mexico, which means "Sandwich."
The mission is just beginning, there is still a long way to go for the whole world to know and love Jesus, let's take the gospel everywhere. I can't stop talking about what I've seen and heard, that Jesus is in everyone's heart.
Mama Hellen Lotara - South Sudan
I am Hellen Lotara. In 2013, I founded the Mama Hellen Lotara Nursery and Primary school in Abara, a remote village in South Sudan with little access to education. Mama Hellen’s School prepares children and youth to be responsible citizens by providing them with quality education and promoting values that can bring about positive change in South Sudan and the world. I am passionate about making education accessible to all students, especially girls, students with limited financial resources, and those who have been traumatized by war and conflict. The motto of Mama Hellen’s School is: Enter to learn…Depart to serve.” In 2017, after moving to Minnesota to join other family members escaping from conflict and violence, I connected with community leaders, business professionals and dedicated volunteers to form “Mama Hellen’s Team.” Our Team in the United States works with closely with school administrators, teachers and parents at the School in South Sudan to provide students the best possible education. We are also very grateful for our collaboration with the St. Cloud Mission Office. The impact of working together is remarkable – students at Mama Hellen’s School are achieving high test scores on national exams and continuing on to higher education; and parents are working with the administration and teachers to make improvements to the school facilities. There is much more to be done…Many hands make light work – Please join us! https://mamahellenschool.com
Fr. Kasereka Kisonia Moise OSC Congo
Br. Eric Kalimbiriro OSC Congo
Br. Salama OSC Congo
Fr. Daniel Hernandez OSC Mexico
Fr. Daniel grew up in Tlxacala, Mexico, about two hours outside Mexico City, and learned about the Crosiers through friends and the Crosiers’ Facebook page. He earned his bachelor’s degree in computer science in Mexico before discerning a vocation to religious life. In 2015, he professed his first vows to the Crosier Order in Onamia and subsequently renewed them.
During his post-novitiate formation, Fr. Daniel attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, where he graduated with a Master of Divinity.
Fr. Omar Guanchez Maracay Venezuela
My name is Father Omar Guanchez, and I was born in Maracay, Venezuela. I was a member of San Bartolomé Parish in the 1990’s and my pastor at the time was Father Richard Walz, a missionary priest from the Diocese of St. Cloud. He was a servant of God, and God called me to the priesthood through the good example of Father Richard. He invited me to come to the United States in the year 2000, and after all the paperwork and legal steps, I got a student visa.
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After I arrived in Minnesota in the summer of 2001, I attended Minnesota State Community College in Fergus Falls, and I eventually studied at St. Cloud State University as well. After much prayer and discernment, I felt the call to be a priest for the Diocese of St. Cloud. After I was accepted as a seminarian, I was sent to the Saint Paul Seminary. In 2009, by the grace of God, Bishop John Kinney ordained me a priest of Jesus Christ at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St Cloud. Since my ordination to the priesthood, I have served in the parishes of Elk River, Melrose, Greenwald, Meire Grove, Spring Hill, and Long Prairie.
Sr. Grace Mbawala OSB Tanzania
Deacon Bro. Marcos Leles OSC
Br. Marcos was born in Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte city in Brazil, in 1987. He entered the Crosier novitiate Sept. 14, 2015, and professed his first vows Feb. 18, 2017. Br. Marcos professed solemn vows Aug. 26, 2022.
He attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota, graduating in May 2024.
Dcn. Br. Marcos then begin his deacon in-service program summer 2024 as a member of the Crosier Community of Onamia.
Sr. Gallusiana Mgaya OSB Tanzania
Fr. Jose Chettoor VC India
From parochial vicar of the Church of Saint Augustine, St. Cloud, and Saint Mary’s Cathedral, St. Cloud, to parochial administrator of the Church of the Holy Cross, Harding and the Church of Saint John Nepomuk, Lastrup.
I come from a large Catholic family in Southern India. Many of my sweet childhood memories are centered on family and our parish church. The faith of my parents and the faith formation I received from the parish as well as the Catholic school helped all of us to take up leadership roles related to the Church. Two of my six siblings do mission work as religious sisters in North India.
I had no plans to become a priest but eventually realized that God wanted me to become a priest and I gratefully accepted the call.
I had always been interested in going to new mission areas. Every time the Vincentians opened new missions in India or elsewhere, I wished I could go there. In 2018, when Bishop Kettler invited a fourth priest from our order to the Diocese of St. Cloud, our provincial superior proposed my name. I perceived it as God’s plan unfolding in my life.
Fr. George Michael VC India
I grew up in the state of Kerala (Diocese of Pala), in southeastern India, the youngest of a Catholic family with four brothers and three sisters and many nieces and nephews. My primary and secondary education was at the local St. Mary’s Catholic school, in academics and religion. My family belonged to St. Mary’s and attended Mass there regularly. The parish priests at my church made a lasting impression on me and encouraged my vocation. After discerning my vocation to the priesthood, I decided to enter the Vincentian Congregation to complete my priestly formation. I completed my novitiate and made my first profession in 1988 and my final profession in 1993. I studied philosophy and theology at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary in Aluva, Kerala, and was ordained a priest Dec. 30, 1995.
Vincentian priests take the vow of obedience. When my superior asked me to minister in the United States of America, I was happy to fulfill his request. I came to the Diocese of St. Cloud in 2008. In 2010, I was sent to serve in Dent and Rush Lake.
The challenge of not being able to live in a community with my brother Vincentians and being apart from my home and family has been lessened by the many wonderful people in the parishes where I have served.
Fr. Jimmy Joseph VC India
I’m from Kerala, India — it’s like Florida, with hot summers and a cool monsoon season. My parents grew rubber trees, pineapples, rice and spices. My three brothers and three sisters and I all worked hard on it. One brother and his family still run the farm. My oldest sister entered the convent before I was born, and another sister is also a religious sister, working with the poor in northern India. I’m the youngest. My family was very religious, attending Mass every day before going to school.
I hadn’t thought of it, because we see priests as very prominent and important. But after high school graduation in 1985, I discerned that Jesus called me and wanted me to be a priest. The nuns helped in my discernment, and I joined the seminary at age 15. I was ordained a priest Jan. 4, 1997.
Bishop [John] Kinney contacted our superior general, who asked me and Father George [Michael] to work in Minnesota. We came in 2008. By that time, I’d lived away from home since age 15 and had been a priest in India for 11 years.
Working with the people here is so good for me. I started in Long Prairie and moved to St. Cloud in the cluster of Holy Spirit, St. Anthony and St. John Cantius parishes and really enjoyed them. I’ve been in the Randall, Flensburg and Sobieski cluster since July 2011. It’s such a good group of people.
Fr. John Paul Igbokwe Nigeria
Fr. Lucho Palomino Peru
