June 4, 2025

By Darcy Fargo
Editor

“The thing I look forward to most is to serve,” said Deacon Dennis Ombongi as he prepared for his May 24 ordination to the diaconate. “That’s the most exciting part of my ministry – working with people in their lives, in their joys, in their struggles and be a sign of Christ and his presence in day-to-day life. I am excited to be with the people.”

He said he was looking forward to moving forward “preaching the Gospel, baptizing, assisting at the altar and giving an ear to someone in need.”

“People have so many challenges,” Deacon Ombongi said. “Entering into people’s suffering and times of grief and crisis needs great compassion and trust in God. People go through a lot. We, as ministers of God, are supposed to enter into their lives and feel and stand with them. We have to have compassion and trust in God – God will always be with me and be with the people. This vocation is not my own; God called me to serve God’s people.”

Deacon Ombongi said he thought it was noteworthy that he, Deacon Michelet Boncoeur and Deacon Tyler Fitzgerald were being ordained in this Jubilee Year of Hope.

“It gives me courage to know we always have hope, despite challenges,” he said. “We know that God is always there, and that gives hope.”

Deacon Ombongi said he also looks forward to spending his summer in Cape Vincent, an area of the diocese that is new to him.

“As part of the pastoral assignment, the challenge is to live and work closely with the parish community, preaching, assisting at Mass, visiting the sick, and to allow the pastor to direct me and to learn from him, and to help him when necessary.”

While he noted his biological family was unable to travel from Africa to attend the ordination, Deacon Ombongi said he was still surrounded by family.

“When God calls, there is grace we receive,” he said. “For the past five years, I have not seen my family. From the time I came and joined the diocese, they send me to St Peter’s Parish in Massena. The people in the parish have been my family. When I come back (from seminary studies or pastoral assignments), I see a warm welcome, and it feels like home. They feel like family, not parishioners. And they’ve been working so hard to prepare for the ordination because their son is being ordained. I’m not alone. I’m with family. That’s something that has been encouraging me a lot.”

Deacon Ombongi expressed gratitude for the support.

“I thank this diocese for the opportunity to come and serve the Lord in the North Country,” he said. “Something about it reminds me of home. I come from Kisii (in Kenya), and Kisii is my first language. I lived in the countryside – away from town. Driving from Columbus, Ohio, coming from school, the trip is a lot of countryside. It feels like home. I thank the bishop, Father Chris (Carrara, vicar of Clergy and Seminarians), of course the people of Massena, Father Mark (Reilly), who has been my spiritual father and has been directing me, all of you working for the diocese – everyone I work with – all the joy I see. The Knights of Columbus support (seminarians and clergy) a lot. The (Diocese of Ogdensburg Vocations Society) DOVS do a lot of work for us.”

He noted, though, that he’s able to regularly chat with his family using digital communications.

“We’re able to Facetime,” he said. “That’s the best part of the internet. My family is so grateful. My mom and dad are both living. I lost my brother five years ago – the first week I entered this diocese. My family is doing good and looking forward to the day I will be ordained. They pray for me – so excited and supportive.”
The newly ordained deacon said he’s amazed with the journey God has led him on so far.

“I encourage anyone who might be discerning their own call, remember, here I am – not to add, not to subtract. God will direct you. Whether in marriage, religious life, service in the Church, wherever God leads, trust in God. God is always doing the work in surprising ways. He brought me from Kisii to Ogdensburg. I think about Matthew 28:19-20, when Jesus sends his disciples all over the world, and they proclaim the word of God. Those who hear and listen, they baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It’s encouraging us and encouraging children to religious life and priesthood.”