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Rev. Joel Henson St. John’s Seminary
17 years of religious service
By Cynthia De Castro / AJPRESS
Although born and raised in the Philippines, Fr. Joel Henson has lived most of his life in the Los Angeles area. After receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from UCLA, he entered St. John’s Seminary in 5012 Seminary Rd Camarillo, CA 93012 in 1988 and was ordained for service in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1993. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Denis Church, Diamond Bar (1993-97) and at St. Anthony Church, Oxnard (1997-99) before being invited to serve as Director of Students (1999-2004) at then St. John’s Seminary College on the same property as the Theologate. At the closing of the Seminary College, Fr. Joel joined the Theologate to become Director of Students. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, MO. Presently working in the Diocese/Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Fr. Joel has served for more than 17 years in the United States.
Rev. Jed Dompor Sumampong C.P. Pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Jamaica, NY (Archdiocese of Brooklyn)
Following the Lord’s lead By Cynthia De Castro / AJPRESS
“It started from a small village or barangay Bagumbayan in the town of Loboc, in Bohol, Philippines,” said Rev. Jed Dompor Sumampong as he talked about his years as a priest. He was ordained a Passionist Priest on August 15, 1984, at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Loboc, Bohol, Philippines, by Most. Rev. Reginald Arliss C.P. Belonging to the Congregation of the Passion, Fr. Jed will be celebrating 27 years in the priesthood this coming August. Presently working in the Diocese/Archdiocese of Brooklyn, Fr. Jed is the pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church at 86-45 Edgerton Blvd. Jamaica, NY 11432. He has been serving in the United States for 14 years now. The young priest says, “I am truly grateful that the Lord is leading me to share the charism of living the Passion of Jesus Christ anywhere, anyplace, anytime with anyone. What a great vocation!” He attended the Loyola School of Theology and the Catholic Theological Union Seminary. His areas of Ministerial Training and Experience are in Parish, Seminary Formation, Hospital Chaplaincy, Youth and Young Adult Ministry. “I am very much blessed to have traveled around 26 countries from the Philippines to Australia, Austria, Canada, China,
Czech Republic, Egpyt, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, France, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, USA and The Vatican. And I’m looking forward to visit many more States in the US, to add to the 40 states I’ve already visited,” said Fr. Jed. “By God’s grace and mercy I am now serving, since October 7, 2007, as pastor of the Immaculate Conception Church in New York . Before this present assignment, I was also assigned as the pastor, from March 15, 2004 to October 6, 2007, of St. Paul of the Cross Parish in Atlanta which celebrated its Golden Jubilee more than four years ago,” he added. Throughout his years in the ministry, Fr. Jed has been led by his favorite motto which is “Lead me to Thy pasture, Lord, and graze there with me.” The National Association of Filipino Priests (U.S.A) 29