One of the newest confreres we’ve welcomed to the U.S. Province is Fr. Chrysologue Pontien Kenfack Djondzo, C.S.Sp. Fr. Pontien was born December 9, 1991, in Yaoundé in the West Region of Cameroon. Fr. Pontien has 10 siblings and one of his brothers, Fr. Armel Hilarion Djondzo, C.S.Sp., is also a Spiritan Priest. 

Fr. Pontien describes what drew him to Spiritan priesthood this way: “The first is the charism of the Congregation, which is to be at the service of the poor, especially those who have never heard the Gospel. And second, a deep love for the Sacred Scriptures. Proclaiming the Gospel to the people is one of my passions. When I see the effects of the proclamation of the Good News in the lives of the faithful, I am consoled, happy and more certain that this is what the Lord has called me to do.”   

He was ordained as a priest on July 8, 2023, in Cameroon, and while waiting for his visa to report to the U.S. Province,  he was assigned to the Scolasticate Poullart des Places of Ngoya (Cameroon) as Bursar and Sunday Vicar of the French-speaking parish Saint Esprit of Mvolye.

Fr. Pontien was in Mexico this fall learning Spanish. He stayed at the parish of Nuestra Senora del Carmen, Cuernavaca (Morelos) with the parish priest Fr. Paschal Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp., from Nigeria and the seminarian Francis Ndidde, C.S.Sp., from Uganda. He eagerly worked to learn the language and study the context of Mexican culture. After spending a month of classes at the Institute of Language and Culture, the other two months were a more practical experience at the parish level through contact with Christians. He helped with the celebration of Masses, Baptisms, visiting of the sick and others activities.

From November 4th to 6th, all the Spiritans Priests went to Tanlajas for a Spiritan formation program and the perpetual profession of a Mexican Brother Josue Torres Martinez, C.S.Sp., in San Antonio de Padua Parish. He described it as “an occasion of joy and Spiritan pride.”

He is now in his new assignment at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Arlington, VA.

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