Fr. Józef Sikora, OMI (2012-2014)

He was born on May 12, 1973 in Kodeń in the Oblate parish in the Lublin province (diocese of Siedlce). He graduated from elementary school in the same town and then went to the Minor Seminary of the Missionary Oblates in Markowice, which he finished with a high school diploma in 1992. Then he went to the OMI novitiate at the Holy Cross where after a year he made his first vows on September 8, 1993, after which he went to the Major Seminary in Obra, where he studied philosophy and theology in the years 1993-1999. There he made his perpetual vows on September 8, 1997, and was ordained a deacon on June 21, 1998, and ordained a priest on June 19, 1999. As his first obedience, he received from Fr. General to the Vice-Province of Pilkomajo in Paraguay, in the same year he went to Spain for a two-month Spanish language course. That same year, on November 2, he began his missionary ministry in Paraguay. After the first months of getting to know a new country, culture and yet another new Guarani language, on February 2, 2000, he was assigned to the Parish of St. Eugene in the Apostolic Vicariate of Pilkomajo (Gran Chaco) as a vicar. After a year, he was asked to become a Youth Minister in the Vicariate. And then he was entrusted with the ministry of pastor of the parish of St. Eugene. Where he served until June 2004. Also during this period, he served as National Youth Ministry Pastor to the Paraguayan Episcopal Conference for two years (2004-2005). In the meantime, in 2003, he also completed a four-month Course in Formation at the Institute of Latin American Pastoral Theology in Bogotá, Colombia. In 2004 he was appointed to the vocational house of the Missionary Oblates in Loma Grande, Cordillera, serving as formator and pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish. He served for the next three years until 2007. From 2004 to 2006 he was also a member of the Provincial Council of the Vice-Province of Pilkomajo. In July 2007, he was transferred back to the Vicariate of Pilkomajo where he served as the parish priest of Mriscal Estigarribia. And until August 2009 he helped in the ministry at the Parish of Our Lady of the Rosary in Gral. Artigas in the Diocese of Itapua. And from that time he prepared to go and serve in Canada. After coming to Canada in March 2010, after a few months he became a vicar at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish in Mississauga, and then after a year he was sent to an English course in Vancouver after which he was appointed vicar at the Holy Rosary Parish in Edmonton. Father Joseph is the youngest of five brothers and one sister. The siblings live in Poland. Mom lives with one of the brothers and his family, and dad died in 2000. One of the brothers also died a tragic death. Interests: football, lawn and table tennis and other sports as far as possible and circumstance