Fr. Baruch Zinsou, SVD

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Ordained in May 2026, Fr. Baruch Zinsou, SVD, is just beginning his life as a religious priest, but his own journey of formation has spanned more than a decade. Now, in his first assignment as a vocation director, he draws on those years of preparation to accompany other young men as they discern whether God is calling them to religious life.

Originally from Benin, a country in West Africa, Fr. Baruch moved to the United States in 2016 to continue his formation with the Divine Word Missionaries. He studied at Divine Word College in Epworth, Iowa, completed his novitiate in Techny, Illinois, and earned two master's degrees at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago: one in Divinity and another in Spirituality.

Learning the Ministry of Presence

One of the most formative experiences in his preparation for priesthood was a 10-week Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program at Bergan Mercy in Omaha, Nebraska. There, he learned about hospital chaplaincy and the importance of being present with people, even when he couldn't solve their problems.

“It helped me to not be afraid to serve those who are suffering,” Fr. Baruch said. “I was in the hospital with patients who had cancer, so every day I met with them. It helped me understand that being present is important, even if I cannot do anything else for them.”

His other pastoral experiences included ministry at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Lafayette, Louisiana, and participation in SPRED, a Chicago-based program where catechists and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities come together to grow in faith and build a sense of belonging in the Church. Later, as a transitional deacon at Our Lady of Africa in Chicago, he served a diverse congregation that included Spanish-speaking, Asian, African and African American parishioners, as well as people new to the Catholic faith. 

Inspiring the Next Generation of Missionaries

Fr. Baruch now lives at St. Joseph Parish in Memphis, Tennessee, and travels throughout the country to promote vocations and meet with young men discerning God's call. He hopes to build relationships with Divine Word Missionary priests and brothers serving in parishes, encouraging them to help young people discover the SVD mission, spirituality and way of life.
For Fr. Baruch, successful vocation ministry isn't measured simply by the number of candidates. He believes vocation directors must help each person discern where God is calling them, even if that path doesn’t lead to religious life. He also hopes to help his fellow missionaries recognize the role they play in inspiring vocations.

“My hope is not to bring 1,000 candidates. My real hope is to help all confreres, especially those in the parishes, to understand that they are the first vocation directors – the ones who really are in contact with potential candidates. They are the ones who will inspire young people. They will help potential candidates learn who the SVD are, see what we really do, and understand our spirituality,” he said. 

For Fr. Baruch, the heart of vocation ministry is not directing someone toward a particular path, but walking with them as they discover God's call. 

“God calls people, not me. I just accompany the candidate,” he said.