Father Cely was born in Colombia one of four children. He was working for American Airlines when he heard God’s call and began discerning religious life. “Surprisingly, although my family was very Catholic, they were not excited at all by my decision to become a priest.”

His call led him to the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) founded by St. Dominic. “I was drawn to this specific order because of their deep commitment to study and preaching” explained Father Cely. “I have always had a hunger for the Truth and a desire to communicate it clearly.” He began living a life committed to prayer, study and evangelization, taking first vows in 1994. He enrolled in philosophy studies at St. Thomas University and pursued theology studies at the prestigious Dominican Studium Generale in Bogota, Colombia. At Pontifical Bolivarian University, among top universities in Latin America, he studied dogmatic theology. In 1998 Father Cely professed perpetual vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. He was ordained to the priesthood on Nov. 4, 2001, the feast of St. Charles Borromeo, patron saint of bishops, catechists and seminarians.

Starting on his new journey as a priest, Father Cely came to work as a missionary in the United States in 2002. He served at the Mission Católica La Guadalupana (Our Lady of Guadalupe Mission) in Ocala describing the mission as a “beautiful, a peaceful place, very simple. The people here have a great love for the mother of God.” He then served as parochial vicar of Blessed Trinity in Ocala while continuing his work in Hispanic Ministry.

In 2012, Father Cely was assigned to St. Mary Magdalen in Altamonte Springs. He was incardinated into the Diocese of Orlando in 2014. He served at St. Mary Magdalen for three years before being assigned as parochial administrator and then pastor of St. Ann Parish in Haines City in July 2015. “This means so much to me,” he said. “I have received so many graces from God in all the years I have lived in the Diocese of Orlando. I want to thank God first, but also Bishop Noonan for his mercy and acceptance and everyone involved in the process. I am joyful and happy to know that I will serve in this diocese for the rest of my life.”

Father Livera was born in Varapuzha, Kerala, India. While still very young, he and his family found it necessary to resettle to a new home. At age 6, following the example of his older brother, Father Livera told his parents he wanted to attend the Carmelite seminary. At age 15 he entered the seminary where.

“We are supposed to be docile to the Holy Spirit and be a good instrument in the hands of God, so He can make use of us in whatever way He wants.”

He was ordained December 26, 2001, in the Carmelite order. After ordination he traveled for three days on a train to Calcutta where Mother Theresa’s sisters were working. Despite recognizing that “the place I was to go was not known to me, and the language and the culture were not known to me,” Father Livera embraced his role as an assistant parish priest at St. John Bosco.

One year later, Father Livera responded to another call to start a seminary in West Bengal. Using the engineering mind inherited from his father he, “started to build a bamboo house for 15 or 16 students. And after one year we changed to a concrete structure.”

Throughout his 25 years as a priest, Father Livera built grottos and seminaries. Before coming to Orlando, he constructed a church with an altar in front of a wall-sized depiction of the Last Supper. Father Livera’s current assignment resulted from a conversation between his provincial and the Diocese of Orlando’s Bishop John Noonan who expressed the need for two priests. When asked if he was ready to go, Father Livera humbly responded, “OK.” “I should confess that this is the most joyful time that I have had in my life because the people here are so loving.”

Recalling the Blessed Virgin’s “fiat” response to the Holy Spirit, Father Livera says, “Mary was able to say, ‘your will be done.’ And after 25 years in the priesthood, I am also able to say with joyful acceptance, ‘your will be done.’”

Father Stephen Ogonwa was born and raised in Nigeria and is a convert to Catholicism. When he was a boy, his eyes were opened to the beauty and rewards of the Catholic Church through conversations and the teachings of Catholic lay people. He was baptized and received his Sacraments at the Easter Vigil in 1983, and from the very start, fell in love with the Holy Eucharist and the Blessed Mother.

He entered minor seminary at age 12. After completing studies and earning degrees, he was ordained Sept. 1, 2001, for the Diocese of Issele-Uku. He has served many different communities and worked in youth ministry. He served at St. Dominic in Boji Owa, Our Lady of Lourdes in Onicha Olona, Mary Immaculate in Ogwashi Uku, and Sacred Heart in Obomkpa in 2004.

In 2008, Father Ogonwa left Nigeria to serve in the Diocese of Orlando. He served at Our Lady of Hope in Port Orange, Prince of Peace in Ormond Beach, Immaculate Heart of Mary in Candler, St. Paul in Leesburg and currently at Blessed Sacrament in Cocoa.

Father Ogonwa shared he’s excited to see what God has in store next and will serve Jesus Christ wherever needed. He feels blessed by his ministry years and the people he has served along the way. He added the number three is very significant in his life. “My life is intricately bound to the Trinity. I was the third child in my family, one of the three priests ordained at the same time in my diocese and the third person from my hometown to become a priest.”

“I am celebrating my silver jubilee of my priestly ordination,” he said. “I feel so happy to see this day to celebrate.”

Father Shaute is a native of Washington state, but he spent his school-age years growing up in Florida. A child of a U.S. Army officer, he lived in many locations by the time his family moved to Miami where they stayed for 14 years.

After high school, he enrolled at Florida International University to study journalism. When his family moved to Georgia, he enrolled at Georgia State University continuing journalism studies and faith formation in a young adult group. After graduating, he worked in various media and writing jobs.

“My dad asked me to make sure I was going in the right direction,” so he took a series of career tests and was surprised at the results. “The secular tests of my interests, skills and personality said I should go into public relations or clergy,” he said with a laugh.

He continued volunteering at his parish. “One of my best friends was the youth minister, who started Life Teen that tripled in size in one year and I had my own spiritual growth,” he said. “Jesus was sending teens as messengers, several of them telling me I had a calling to be a priest.”

In 1995, the college grad went to Rome on a pilgrimage reflecting again on his career choice. A year later, he entered seminary at Notre Dame in New Orleans.

He was ordained June 2, 2001, for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. In Georgia, Father Shaute served at St. Joseph in Marietta, Holy Trinity in Peachtree City, St. Theresa in Douglasville and St. Clement in Calhoun. Due to health issues Father Shaute consulted his archbishop for a temporary assignment in Florida. With Bishop Noonan’s approval he was assigned to St. Mary in Rockledge in 2023.

In a recent message to parishioners, his words reflected his steadfast dedication to priesthood. “Serving the Church is a privilege and honor that comes with the requirement of Christlike behavior,” he wrote. “Word and deed. Conduct of Christ, not conduct of the world. Being an example for others. Being like someone striving for sainthood.”