Bishop of Osogbo
John Akin Oyejola was born on May 8, 1963, in Aawe, in the Diocese of Oyo. He studied Philosophy and Theology at the Seminary of Saints Peter and Paul in Ibadan. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Oyo on October 5, 1991. Following his ordination, he held the following positions: 1991–1993: Parochial Vicar of Ss. Peter and Paul Parish, Ile-Ife; 1993–1995: Pastor of St. Francis Parish, Modakeke; 1995–1997: Diocesan Director of Vocations; 1991–1997: Diocesan Youth Chaplain; 1992–1997: Diocesan Director for the Biblical Apostolate; 1997–1998: Diploma in Humanities at All Hallows’ College (run by the Vincentian Fathers) in Dublin, Ireland; 1998–1999: Master’s in Pastoral Leadership at All Hallows’ College, Dublin, Ireland; 1999–2004: Pastor of St. Ferdinand Parish, Ogbomoso; 1999–2011: Member of the College of Consultors; 2004–2010: National Director of Religious Educators in Nigeria; 2004–2011: Regional Director of the Pastoral Institute; 2011–2015: Master’s in Marriage & Family Therapy at St. Mary’s College in California, USA. During that period, he served at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Concord, California, while simultaneously working as an In-house Counselor for Catholic Charities in Oakland (2013–2014) and as a Chaplain for the Community Hospital and Catholic Charities in Monterey Peninsula, California (2014–2015). Since 2015, he has served as Pastor of St. Stephen Catholic Church in Apaara, Oyo, and as head of the Diocesan Family Pastoral Center, which serves priests, religious, and laypeople.