As a transitional deacon at Our Lady of Africa parish in Chicago, Father Baruch Zinsou SVD reflected a clear purpose: to “present the light of Christ” in a world marked by diversity and longing for unity.
Born in Benin into a Catholic family, Father Zinsou’s faith journey was shaped early by his family and movement. His father, a teacher, lived what he describes as a “nomad life,” relocating frequently as government assignments changed.
The Zinsou family experienced life across Benin. Born in the north, educated in the south, northwest and northeast, Father Zinsou encountered a variety of cultures and perspectives that would later prepare him for his missionary calling.
Faith, however, was the constant. As the second of six children and a third-generation Catholic, Father Zinsou grew up in a home where openness to God’s will was paramount.
His father recognized the seriousness of a religious vocation, understanding that “if there’s a call, you can’t go against God.”
His mother expressed this belief even more poignantly, telling him, “You don’t belong to me; you belong to God.”
That conviction would remain a cornerstone of his spiritual identity.
Father Zinsou’s calling took clearer shape during his senior year of high school, when he encountered the Society of the Divine Word (SVD). Drawn by their missionary spirit and communal life, he saw religious life as a concrete way to follow Christ more closely.
As he explained, “Religious life is a way for me to be more close to God and reciprocate God’s love.”
This desire—to respond actively to divine love—became the driving force behind his vocation. For Father Zinsou, religious life is not simply about service but about becoming a visible sign of God’s presence.
He acknowledges the challenges of such a path, “to be a sign for this world” through vows of obedience, chastity and poverty. Yet it is precisely in this commitment that he experiences deeper intimacy with God. His spirituality is not abstract; it is lived daily through discipline, sacrifice and trust.
Father Zinsou’s journey has taken him far from home. He has not returned to Benin since 2016 and yet his connection to family remains strong. He speaks lovingly of his mother.
“I used to call and talk with my mom every day, and through CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education), I realized how close I am to my mom,” he said.
Her spiritual support sustains him, as she continues to pray for him and reminds him, “I have my two hands to welcome you back again.”
Academically and pastorally, Father Zinsou has pursued excellence with intention. He approaches formation with seriousness and purpose. He holds a double degree and a master’s degree in spirituality with a minor in ethics.
As he puts it, “I don’t like to do things halfway.”
His studies, including courses at the Institute of Black Catholic Studies (IBCS) at Xavier University in New Orleans, have deepened his understanding of how spirituality can be expressed across cultures. He has explored African American spirituals, recognizing in them a universal language of suffering, hope, and faith.
For him, songs like “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen” have become historical artifacts and living prayers. They are tools for spiritual reflection that can resonate even with those in places of hardship, such as immigration detention centers, he said.
His pastoral experiences include time at Immaculate Heart of Mary in Lafayette, Louisiana; time with the SPRED ministry in Chicago; CPE at Bergan Mercy-Medical Center/CHI Health in Omaha, Nebraska; and a practicum with Dominican University.
At Our Lady of Africa, where he served as a transitional deacon, he observed a “quite unique” environment with Spanish-speaking, Asian, African American and new Catholic parishioners coming together.
His work at the parish included involvement with the soup kitchen ministry and Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA), leading weekend Adoration, accompanying parishioners spiritually and fostering a sense of unity in diverse communities.
Father Zinsou has been assigned to the Chicago Province. He is assigned to the Epworth community and appointed as a vocation director while residing at St. Joseph Parish in Memphis, Tennessee.
As he looks toward future ministry, he said he is both excited and concerned yet hopeful. He expressed the desire “to really serve the congregation and the Church in general,” helping others to grow in faith and even to embrace sacrifice as part of discipleship.