Colombian John Montoya ordained priest in London

Bishop Patrick Lynch, Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark, presided at the ordination to the priesthood of John Jairo Montoya at St Ignatius Church, Stamford Hill on 31 May.  Father Luis Fernando Múnera-Congote represented the Colombian Provincial.

John Jaire studied law and worked for a time as a judge in Colombia before joining the Jesuits in 1996.  He is currently studying Pastoral Theology at Heythrop College in London.

Music at the Ordination Mass was provided by both the parish choir and Latin American singers.  Much of the ceremony—including John Jairo's solemn vows—was in Spanish.

John Jairo says he became impressed by the Jesuits with whom he came into contact in Colombia; by their tremendous commitment to social justice in Latin America and their enormous impact on education, science and culture.  He will continue to live in the Stamford Hill Jesuit Community until September when he will return to Colombia to join in the apostolic work of the Jesuits there.