Gulf Pine Catholic

12 Gulf Pine Catholic • September 13, 2024 Father Vincent Ajayi celebrates three decades of priestly ministry Father Vincent, foreground is pictured with Bishop Louis F. Kihneman III, center, and Deacon Jerry Dubuisson. Father Vincent is pictured with the bishop and his brother priests. Father Vincent is pictured with the bishop and his family members. Photos/Juliana Skelton Father Vincent Ajayi celebrated the 30th anniversary of his ordination to the priest- hood on August 20 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Vancleave. Father Vincent, a Nigerian-American, was ordained on August 20, 1994, for the Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria, where he served at various times and capacities as a Pastor, Vocations Director, Youth Chaplain, Vicar, and member of the College of Consultors. His last assignment was as the Rector of the St. Sebastian Catholic Cathedral, Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria, and Vicar of Ijebu Ode Vicarate (November 2013-August 2020) While pursuing his graduate degrees at Fordham University, Bronx New York, and Iona College, New Rochelle, New York, he served as a Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Victory Church, Mount Vernon in the Archdiocese Diocese of New York. He also supplied during summer months for many years in St. Benedict-St .Bonaventure Parish in Jamaica- Queens in the Diocese of Brooklyn, USA. Father Vincent has over 25 years of work experience in Social Ministry/ Justice and Peace. He was the Director of Church and Society Department of the Conference of Bishops, Lagos Ecclesiastical Province, Nigeria, and the founding Executive Director of the Atan Justice, Development and Peace Centre, Nigeria. On Jan. 2021, Father Vincent was named Parochial Vicar of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Long Beach, MS. As an incardinated priest of Biloxi Diocese, he serves on the Board of the Catholic Charities of Southern Mississippi, USA. On May 15, 2023, Father Vincent O. Ajayi was appointed Episcopal Vicar for Temporal Matters. His responsibilities will include the oversight of financial matters (bud- gets, investments, grants, etc.), health and property insurance, personnel and priests’ pen- sions and benefits, facilities, construction, etc. He is currently parochial administrator pro-tem of Holy Spirit Parish in Vancleave and Christ the King Mission in Latimer.