Fr. Seraphine Lesiriam

Fr. Seraphine Lesiriam, C.PP.S. comes to the Downtown Dayton Catholic Churches, and our new Family of Parishes, from the Tanzanian Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. He was born in 1970, in Moshi, Kilimanjaro. His parents are Leonardo Lesiriam and Regina Athanas (deceased). He has two brothers living in Manyoni, Singida.

Fr. Seraphim Lesiriam, C.PP.S.

Fr. Seraphine entered the seminary of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in 1983 and was ordained on July 30, 2002. He first served as a parochial vicar at St. Nicholas parish for two years and then became pastor for two years at Precious Blood parish. Then Fr. Seraphine was called upon to become the Administrator of St. Gasper Referral and Teaching Hospital in Itigi Signida, which is sponsored by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. His ministry involved such things as Human Resources, oversight of finances, and he was spokesperson for the hospital. Fr. Seraphine remained at the hospital for 16 years and then was reassigned as parochial vicar at St. Francis Xavier parish in Dodoma.

Earlier this year, Fr. Seraphine was asked to consider a new assignment with the Missionaries of the Precious Blood in the United States Province. He gladly accepted the invitation to begin this new ministry and arrived in Dayton in mid-July 2022.

Fr. Seraphine enjoys reading all types of books, watching soccer and visiting people. In reflecting on this new assignment, Father said, “Since this is a new ministry, new culture, and new people I need to learn from all of you the way of doing things in this pastoral setting, while bringing my gifts and talents and culture to share with you.” Fr. Seraphine will live with Fr. Angelo and Fr. Ken at St. Joseph’s rectory and minister within the Downtown Dayton parishes for the next four years.