Fr. Louis says he encountered St. Daniel Comboni — and his vocation — at an “exotic breakfast.”
Fr. Louis Okot Ochermoi at an early mission post in Lima, Peru.
Fr. Louis Tony Okot Ochermoi
In my childhood, my father and elders in our village, Iboni, shared about Fr. Tito Giuntoli and Fr. Simone and their trips to the Lafon mission to celebrate the sacraments and important liturgical feasts. The two priests were Verona Fathers (Comboni Missionaries).
In order to capture the listeners’ attention, our elders dramatized passionately and nostalgically their experiences with the two priests. Even my father shared with us his experience at Okaru Seminary. He was a classmate of Paride Taban, former bishop emeritus of Torit, South Sudan.
When the Comboni Missionaries were expelled from Sudan in 1964 there were few diocesan priests. Therefore, Urbano, our elderly catechist cared for us pastorally. Later, my blind Uncle Oturo, who was a catechist, took care of us. These catechists lived their vocation with passion and fidelity.
Unknowingly, these catechists sowed in me a passion for mission and love for people. Unfortunately, due to civil war, my family fled to Uganda. We returned in 1973 and settled in Juba where I continued with my education. I attended St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, the cathedral parish for Masses and other liturgical
celebrations.
My cousin and I dreamt of being mechanics. My father never spoke to me about becoming a priest but only about marriage. The constant visits of my uncle, a seminarian, did not change me. Eventually, my uncle became our parish priest and he was the one who on May 25, 1997, organized my priestly ordination joyfully and enthusiastically.
Change of dream – a seed has sprouted
During my senior secondary school in Juba, Fr. Philip Sina, a Comboni Missionary, taught us religion. Through his radical and prophetic lifestyle and missionary zeal, a new dream and direction was born in me.
One day, during break time, we asked him several questions: “Are you married? Why are you here?” In a few words, he told us about Comboni. Then from his old missionary bag, he gave us the book A Heart for Africa and told us, “You can also become a Comboni Missionary…”. This was our exotic breakfast! That day, I walked back home alone reading that book several times. Comboni’s passion, dream, and love for Africa captivated me. I could not resist loving the bearded man. Comboni was a foreigner. Unlike others at the time, he never came for the slave trade and other personal interests, but brought us God and empowerment.
Through this encounter, God persuaded me to dream together with him for his Kingdom. I did not know how it would be done. But I only surrendered to him with
faith. This was an invitation to follow St. Comboni in his passion and zeal for Africa. Let me confess that up to that point, I had never taken seriously God’s Word, though my parents had always inculcated in us moral values and fear of God. They had shown us the teachings of the Church and love for our neighbor. But this experience exploded into a new relationship with God and my neighbor. I didn’t wait to consult my parents but went to Fr. Sina to orient me.
Becoming a Comboni Missionary
Like the disciples of John the Baptist, the next day, after the lesson, I followed Fr. Sina to his car and asked him, “Where do you live? How can I become a Comboni Missionary?” He pointed the way. Immediately, I joined his group of youth who were preparing for baptism and confirmation and others who were Comboni aspirants. Here, my journey to become a disciple and a Comboni Missionary gained momentum. I arrived at the Comboni House compound at 5 p.m. on October 5, 1987, to join the prepostulancy. The formator (and soon my friend), Fr. Jesus Aranda, welcomed me enthusiastically and joyfully.
The late archbishop Paolino Lukudu Loro of Juba confirmed me during my postulancy formation during which Fr. Todd Ribe was my godparent. This strengthened my dream of becoming a Comboni Missionary. During my basic formation (1988–1997), the formators helped me to clarify my vocational motivations and to know the Master who was calling me. I grew in my intimate relationship with God and Jesus Christ. My passion for mission and people swelled. On April 24, 1993, I made my first vows. I took my final vows on December 22, 1996, and on May 25, 1997, I was ordained priest by Bishop Paride in my parish, St. Mary in Iboni.
Mission in Peru
During my ordination, Bishop Paride told people that “the father of this man was with me in Okaru Seminary; now his son has become a missionary. He will share his faith and the Word of God with the people of Peru.” Fr. Francesco Chemello reiterated the message and encouraged the Christians to be active missionaries.
I arrived in Peru in October 1997. In March 1998, I was assigned to the community of Chorrillos, in the periphery of Lima, in the “Cristo Misionero del Padre” parish. Fr. Fernando Madaschi, Fr. Florentino Lafuente and Br. Paul Mandala welcomed me.
The parish contained fifteen well-organized chapels. Our confreres in the scholasticate of Lima and three religious congregations participated actively in the parish activities and helped us run the parish. We planned, implemented, and evaluated together the parish pastoral plan.
The parish was a model of a Church that “goes out.”
Initially, I was shy, but after a while, I enjoyed the pastoral work. My confreres helped me in my process of learning the Spanish language and settling into parish life. Sometimes, the language learning and inculturation process drained my energy. I had moments of discouragement and frustration.
But the atmosphere of teamwork and care for one another, both in the parish and community life, helped me to live a positive missionary life and to enlarge my missionary horizon.
In October 2004, after this positive missionary experience in the parish, I was appointed as formator in the postulancy. During this period, I learned to accompany young people in their vocation discernment journey. It was a different environment and ministry where we walked together in search of Jesus.
Mission in South Sudan
I returned to Sudan in 2005 after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Kenya and after participating in the Comboni Year in South Africa in 2009. South Sudan held its referendum for independence in 2010. In July 2011, South Sudan officially became an independent country. I was assigned to the Kajo-Keji mission in 2009 to work together with Fr. Albino Adot, Br. Erich Fischnaller, Fr. Ezio Bettini, and Fr. Aventore Milla Jimy. I served both in the Comboni schools and in the parish.
After the missionary experience in Peru, it was a blessing to work in my new country. The schools welcomed children of different backgrounds. We joyfully cared for their spiritual needs. The feast of St. Daniel Comboni was celebrated by the entire school as if we were all Catholics; it was clear that he was a mentor to all.
In 2011, I was appointed to the office of vocation promotion. I cheerfully embraced his ministry to work and accompany young people in their vocation discernment process.
I returned to Kajo-Keji with Fr. Pacifico Salvatore to open a prepostulancy with our first group of prepostulants from 2013 to 2014. In 2015, we moved to our permanent residence in Juba. When I started to get immersed in formation again, the confreres elected me in October 2016 to serve as the provincial superior. I served for two terms from January 2017 to December 2022.
This service was another challenging but enriching missionary experience journeying with confreres in the missions. I thank God for this experience.
“Go Out…”
As of January 2023, our superiors in Rome have assigned me to “go out” to the North American Province. I embrace this new assignment with humility, faith, hope, and passion for Christ, mission, and humanity.
Now, it is no longer because Fr. Sina motivated me, but because I have heard this constant irresistible voice of the Master to follow him and freely “go out” and evangelize.
