Our Seminarians

The men pictured below are currently preparing for priestly ministry in the Diocese of Gaylord. Diocesan priests commit their lives to serving the people of a specific diocese and generally work in parishes, schools, or other ministries as assigned by the bishop of the diocese.

Preparation for the priesthood typically requires eight years of education beyond high school, usually including a college degree followed by four or more years of theology study at a seminary.

We encourage you to pray regularly for these men and that others will also discern their call to the priesthood.

Sylvestre Obwaka

Sylvestre is the oldest of four sons. Three have graduated from college, with the youngest attending college this fall. After high school, Sylvestre studied Philosophy for two years and graduated with BA in Philosophy from St. Augustine Senior Seminary, an affliate of Urbaniana University, Rome. He continued studying Theology for two more years at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Nairobi, Kenya. He then left the seminary and worked in retail sales for two years.

The call to church service led Sylvestre to join a Franciscan Order that sent him to study at Louisiana State University in Shreveport, LA. There he searned a Masters degree in Human Services Administration.

Ultimately, his continued discernment about his vocation to the priesthood led him to apply to our diocese and continued his formation at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. He was able to finish his last preaching course within the Diocese and will be graduating with a Masters degree in Divinity this Spring from Sacred Heart.

Sylvestre was ordained a transitional deacon on August 8, 2009 at Holy Family Parish in East Tawas. His Priestly Ordination is scheduled to take place in June 12, 2010 at St. Mary Cathedral in Gaylord. He is currently living in the rectory and serving at Christ the King Parish in Acme, Michigan.

Gerald Okoli

Gerald Okoli contacted us from Oregon where he was doing a year of Clinical Pastoral Education at a psychiatric hosptial there. We invited him to our "Come & See" weekend and were impressed with him. A couple of weeks later we invited him back to be processed for sponsorship. Gerald comes to us with a lot of seminary experience. He completed four years of Philosophy and three years of Theology in a seminary of his home country - Nigeria. On leaving the Seminary there he taught in a Catholic High School in Nigeria for three years. He felt the persistent call to priesthood and went to study at an international School of Theology at the Louvain in Belgium. He completed his Theological studies there and started a Masters degree in Relgious Studies. After completing one year of his Masters program he left to further explore ministry through CPE which lead him to Oregon. Besides his academic background Gerald excells on the soccer field. He comes from a large family.

Since being accepted as a seminarian, Okoli has continued his studies at Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, Wisconsin . He was assigned a home parish in the diocese of Holy Childhood in Harbor Springs and spent a summer serving there as well as visiting during breaks in the school year. He completed his pastoral year serving under the supervision of Fr. Charlie Donajkowski at St. Ignatius, Rogers City , St. Casimir, Posen and St. Dominic in Metz . He also spent a summer serving St. Francis in Lewiston and St. Mary in Mio.

He was ordained a transitional deacon by Bishop Bernard A. Hebda on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at Holy Childhood Church in Harbor Springs. He is scheduled to be ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Gaylord on June 12, 2010 at St. Mary Cathedral in Gaylord along with Deacon Sylvestre Obwaka.

Tyler Bischoff

Tyler Bischoff is from East Tawas, Michigan. He was born and raised in East Tawas as the oldest child with two younger sisters. He remembers wanting to be a priest as early as elementary school. He went to Catholic schools beginning in the 3rd grade. Tyler graduated 4th in his class from high school in 2007. While in high school, he also began running track and cross country, setting some new records for his school. Upon graduation he enrolled in Aquinas College in Grand Rapids. He loves being in college, meeting new people, and studying as well as competing with the cross country and track teams. He feels his love of teamwork helped him transition into college life. He now attends the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.

Matthew Cowan

Matthew Cowan is from Petoskey, Michigan. He is the youngest in his family, growing up with one brother and one sister. Matt attended St Francis Xavier Elementary School in Petoskey, then went to the public school for his high school years. He graduated in 2003. He began his college career at Michigan State University majoring in History and English, received his BA in History and English. Matt was a Boy Scout while growing up, achieving the position of Eagle Scout. In college he was very active being a Tower Guard, and as a member of the History Fraternity, Honors Fraternity, and Spanish club. He is quite fluent in Spanish and had some experience teaching while in college. He would like to study Spanish more and perhaps teach more in the future. Matt also competes in triathlons. He is attending the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.

Peter Wigton

Peter Wigton is from Cedar, Michigan. He is the fifth child of ten siblings. His father is a very hard working medical doctor, while his mother stayed quite busy raising ten children. He attended Catholic schools from the second grade. He remembers being a good student, rewarded for excellent or outstanding work and always did very well in religion class. While in high school he became very involved in sports and school politics. After high school, Peter attended the Franciscan University of Steubenville. He originally enrolled in business courses, but after one semester, switched to Humanities and Catholic Culture and Theology. While in college, Peter spent several semesters studying abroad. Each location was a very spiritual experience for him. By the end of his junior year, he felt the call to enter a life long relationship with God.

After this graduation from Franciscan University in 2005, he began a serious vocational search. He decided to join the Friars Minor of Mary Immaculate in Rome, he remained with them until May 2008. He made temporary vows in May of 2007. Early in 2008 he realized that he needed to discern diocesan life. After working with his spiritual director in Rome, it was decided that he would ask for a dispensation from those vows and was accepted for the Diocese of Gaylord. He is attending the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus.

Bryan Medlin

Bryan Medlin was born in Wyandotte, and raised in Trenton, Michigan. His father is a pharmacist, and his mother is an elementary school teacher. He has one younger brother.

He holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Michigan. He is currently in his first year of Theology at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.

Michael Wigton

Michael Wigton is from Cedar, Michigan. He is the ninth child of ten siblings. His father is a medical doctor, while his mother stayed quite busy raising ten children. He attended Catholic elementary and high school.

His first year of college he attended Franciscan Unviersity in Steubenville, Ohio. His second year of college, he attended Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, Michigan. He is currently in his third year of college, attending the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.