Lucio Castillo, n.omiLos Angeles, California, USA
Lucio Castillo Escamilla was born in Mexico City, Mexico but grew up in Los Angeles, California. He comes from a family of two wonderful parents and four sisters. Lucio finished high school and earned an Industrial Technology degree at Cal Poly State University of San Luis Obispo graduating in the May 2006 followed by a degree in philosophy at D’Youville College in Buffalo, NY this past summer of 2008.
Throughout high school, Lucio was part of a choir at his local diocesan parish and played the snare drums. He later joined a young adult retreat group called SEARCH where he became a youth leader and coordinator. Working with young adults and being involved in the Newman Catholic Center during his college life helped promote an interest to the priesthood. He also participated in a mission trip to Honduras for a few weeks.
In the winter of 2006, Lucio was invited to a vocational retreat by his confirmation sponsor, Jesse Esqueda, and met the Oblates of Mary Immaculate for the first time. From there, Lucio participated on mission trips to La Morita Mission, just outside Tijuana, BC, Mexico. The Oblate missionary zeal and work for the poor inspired Lucio.
In August 2007, he entered the pre-novitiate program in Buffalo, NY. A year later as a novice, Lucio hopes to grow in the Oblate spirituality and deepen his relationship with Christ.
Jesse Esqueda, n.omi
Los Angeles, California, U
SAJesse Esqueda comes from Santa Rosa Parish in Southern California. He grew up in El Monte, California with his four brothers and three sisters. His biggest motivation and inspiration has been the amazing example of his parents. From his father, who died in 1993, he learned commitment, responsibility and the value of hard work. From his mother he learned the value of faith, strength, and compassion for others.
After graduating high school, Jesse became involved with the SEARCH Program. It was during this time that Jesse discovered his talents and passion for service. After several years as the director of SEARCH and youth minister of St. Raymond Church, Jesse felt a strong calling for a long term missionary experience in another country.
In summer 2003, Jesse relocated to Honduras, Central America, where he had a two-year mission experience. Here, Jesse worked in the Diocese of San Pedro Sula as a youth advisor, and elementary school teacher. In addition, he volunteered in an orphanage of children living with HIV/AIDS. While there, Jesse also received a theology degree from the Catholic University of Honduras. The experience of sharing his life with the poor, the sick and the suffering, changed his life.
Upon retuning to California, Jesse became the youth minister of Santa Rosa Church, an Oblate parish. The Oblate spirit, compassion, and zeal for the mission encouraged Jesse to continue with his discernment process.
In August 2007, he entered the pre-novitiate program in Buffalo, NY, where he received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. He continues his formation as a novice for the Oblates.
Jesse is a very energetic individual with a positive attitude for life. He enjoys reading, drawing, listening to music (80’s Rock), dancing, and meeting new people. He feels blessed for having an amazing family, a great group of friends and a wonderful community. He is excited to continue his formation process with the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. His goal is to become a compassionate missionary someday by learning, loving, and sharing his life with the poor.
Joseph Nkomeshya, n.omiLusaka, Zambia, Africa
Joseph Nkomeshya was born on 28 February, 1981, and has three brothers and two half sisters. He is the grandson of her royal highness Senior Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamabo II of the Soli people in the Lusaka Province.
Before joining the Oblates, Joseph worked with the Society for Family Health as a communication assistant and also as a youth advocate in issues involving child labor, social justice, and promotion of total abstinence from drugs and alcohol. This involved counseling and road-show educative movies. He studied human resource and business management.
While at the pre-novitiate, Joseph did his ministry at the local hospice taking care of the sick. He also performed his clinical pastoral care at University Teaching Hospital, the largest national
hospital in Lusaka.
Apart from hospital ministry, Joseph worked at Mary Immaculate Parish, an Oblate parish, teaching catechism, conducting youth retreats and other social events for the youth. Joseph also participated in the vocation club.
Felix Nyambe, n.omiLivingston, Southern Province, Zambia, Africa
Felix Bwalya Nyambe was born on 6 November 1986, in the Northern Province of Zambia. He is the youngest of the siblings with his elder brother, Lee. Lee is in college doing a ZICA programme (NATECH).
The interest to become a religious began when Felix was an altar boy in his home parish, Mary Queen of Peace Parish in Lusaka. There in May 2003, he met the Oblates through the pre-novices who were conducting their pastoral experience in the parish. Felix soon participated in parish ministries, first with the vocation group, in which he was the vice chairperson. He also worked with the parish youth group.
Felix formally joined the Oblates in February 2007 through the pre-novitiate programme. While there, he worked at the hospice for the chronically ill. He also worked at the University Teaching Hospital, which is the largest hospital in Zambia. In addition to the hospice and hospital, Felix worked at another Oblate parish, Mary Immaculate Parish. He taught catechism and held parish retreats with the youth.
The pre-novitiate helped him discover his longing for a deeper relationship with Christ and the people. The novitiate year in the United States Province is a year of grace for him, one of spiritual maturity and the ability to grasp and embrace the Oblate way of life.
David Uribe, n.omiAustin, Texas USA
David Paul Uribe was born in the small west Texas town of Seminole in 1973 where his parents, David and Mary Uribe, lived along with an extended family. He is the middle sibling with an older sister, Lisa, and a younger sister, Michelle. At the age of eight, the pastor asked David if he would become an altar boy for the parish. After a few years, he was recognized for his commitment as an altar boy and his responsibility increased.
At 13, David met James Delaney, OMI in Big Spring, Texas. Fr. Delaney introduced the Oblates to David and a year later he enrolled into St. Anthony’s High School Seminary in San Antonio. He learned much about the Oblate spirit and mission tradition. This only increased his admiration for the Oblate charism.
Upon completing high school in 1991, David entered into the Oblate pre-novitiate in Austin, Texas. After two years there, he exited the formation program and remained in Austin.
In 1998, David completed his bachelor degree in Psychology at St. Edward’s University, and worked full-time at the University in various departments. As internship coordinator in the Career Planning Office for nine years, David counseled university students on their internship interests, while networking with professionals in the local and regional area.
In 2004, he earned a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership & Ethics from St. Edward’s. He was then asked to join nonprofit boards and volunteered many hours with several organizations in Austin.
In 2005, the call to religious life crept up on him and he slowly discerned a return to the Oblates, with the help of Richard Hall, OMI and Charlie Banks, OMI. In August 2007, he left Texas and joined the pre-novitiate program in Buffalo, NY.
Now as a novice, David enjoys rekindling his Oblate connections from the past and looks forward to what the will of God has in store for him in a much larger Oblate U.S. Province.
Devin Watkins, n.omiMidkiff, Texas USA
Devin Sean Watkins was born on November 1, 1984 to Richard and SueAnn Watkins. He is the oldest of four children and his siblings are Allison, Julie, and Kristin. At 14 years of age, on February 5, 1999 he suffered the tragic loss of his mother and his two youngest sisters, Julie and Kristin, to a plane crash. This left his father Richard to raise him and his sister Allison alone. However, in 2001, Devin was blessed with a stepmother and stepsister when his father remarried a widow named Dinette who has an only daughter, Mikela.
Devin graduated from Rankin High School and went to college at Texas A&M University to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness. It was at A&M that he realized God’s call to the priesthood and learned about the Oblates through Bishop Michael Pfiefer, OMI, the Ordinary of his home diocese of San Angelo. Devin was introduced to the regional vocation director, Fr. Charles Banks, OMI who encouraged his attendance to a “Come-and-See” retreat in Buffalo, NY in the spring of 2007. It was there that he realized God’s call to life with the Oblates and after his graduation from A&M in May 2007, he applied for and entered the pre-novitiate program in Buffalo. There he attended D’Youville College for one year and completed the necessary credits in philosophy and religious studies for entrance to the novitiate.
Having grown up on a cotton farm in West Texas, Devin’s favorite hobbies include farm and yard work, mechanic work, and reading. He is looking forward to his time in Godfrey, Illinois and hopes to further discern the Lord’s Will as it pertains to his vocation and Oblate life.
Mathews Zulu, n.omiChirundu, Southern Province, Zambia, Africa
Mathews Zulu was born in Kabwe, Central Province of Zambia, but he grew up in Serenje though originally his parents come from the eastern part of Zambia. He comes from the family of ten; eight sisters and one brother and he is the seventh child.
Mathews did his primary and secondary school in Serenje, Central Province. Later went to Chirundu, Southern Province, where he worked at Mtendere Mission Hospital as a lab assistant for three years. When he worked in the hospital, he related to the patients easily and understood their medical situations. Though his desire to serve the Lord began long ago when he was in primary school, he gained more passion for the poor when he worked with the sick. Mathews realized how poor people struggle to receive the proper medical care for their illnesses. This experience gave him more concern and ambition to work directly with most abandoned as a religious.
From early on, Mathews was actively participating in the youth groups at his parish. He has been a chairperson for youth in Serenje (St. Peters Parish) and in Chirundu (St Mary Queen of Peace Parish) respectively.When Mathews went to the pre-novitiate, he worked with the terminally ill at Mother Teresa Hospice in Lusaka. In his second year of pre-novitiate, he worked at Mary Immaculate Parish where he taught catechism. He also worked with the sick at the National University Teaching Hospital where he did clinical pastoral experience (CPE). Mathews is very thankful to God for His help and guidance.
