“I am Father Julien, originally from Togo in West Africa. Togo is a small French-speaking country with a population of 8 million people. The Catholics are about 25%, the traditional animists 37%, and Muslims 14%. I had a polygamous dad which is common in my tribe. He converted to Catholicism when I was 22. He passed away before my ordination to the priesthood. My mom had 4 children and I am somewhere in the middle. She passed away 2 years ago.

“I started my formation for the priesthood after college. I was 22 years old. I began with philosophy for 3 years in Ivory Coast and I went to Benin Republic to do 1 year of international year of spirituality. After that, I was sent to Nigeria to do my pastoral. At the end of my pastoral year, I was sent to do 3 years of theology in Kenya. I was ordained a priest of the Society of African Missions (SMA) on August 10, 2013. My first Mass after ordination was in Togo, my country. I was sent to Ghana for Mission.  I came to the U.S. in 2015 at the request of my order to do vocational animation. While doing that I obtained my master’s degree in counseling psychology. I have been at St. Matthew parish, Champaign since February last year. In the month of June 2024, Most Reverend Bishop Louis Tylka asked me to go to St Anne, St John, and St Mary parishes starting July 1. I am always ready to preach the Gospel wherever the Lord wants me to.  I know the Holy Spirit is already ahead of me. I am ready to let Him use me in a way He wants.

“I have enjoyed my life as a priest so far and I hope to continue to enjoy it. I am blessed to have Jesus as a brother and Mary as a mother. In my free time, I love to read and play soccer. I take life easy and I try to embrace all with prayer.”