Hello, my name is Reginald (Reggie) Odima. I have been in the seminary for about 6 1/2 years now, and I just completed a Pastoral year at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Midland. I spent the whole year working as an intern at the parish, assisting the priests and deacons in various ways, helping in different ministries such as Confirmation formation, youth group, college ministry and young adult ministry. It was an incredible year for me because it challenged me to see the strengths and weaknesses I have, an opportunity to reflect on my vocation in a pastoral setting and an opportunity to get to know the parishioners of the diocese. It was also exciting because it was the first time in my life, for as far back as I could remember, that I was not in a classroom taking classes for a whole year. But now my pastoral year at Our Lady of Guadalupe is complete, and the question that often comes up is, now what?

This summer I am taking classes and working at a hospital taking a program called Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). The easiest way to be able to explain this program is that I am a chaplain-in-training. It is a vital program because it flows almost directly from what Pope Francis says regarding the church. He says that we are on a battlefield and that the church is a field hospital, so what a better way to experience this than being in a hospital, working in an intensive program? The hospital I am in is called Sacred Heart, Peace Health Hospital in Springfield, Ore. I started June 1 and will remain there until August 13.

After the CPE experience, I will head directly back to seminary to complete my third and fourth years of Theology. God willing, I will be ordained as a deacon in the summer following the third year and ordained a priest the summer following my fourth year. After which point I will return as to the diocese and work full time at a parish near you! Again, nothing is set in stone, but please pray that God’s will is done regarding my path of serving him.

As always, thank you so much for all of your support and prayers throughout all these years. My mother and family were able to visit Our Lady of Guadalupe in Midland, and they were overwhelmed by how welcoming and loved the parishioners in this diocese are. Thank you and do know that the whole diocese is always in my prayers. Blessings to you all and if our paths ever cross, please be sure to say hello because you are all a blessing to me.