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11/01/2017 08:30 AMFollowing a fascinating journey from his African homeland to East Haven, Reverend Charles Kamano celebrated his first worship services at Christ and the Epiphany Church on Oct 1.
Raised in Sierra Leone in West Africa, Charles grew up in the Muslim faith, with his mother the first of his father’s multiple wives.
Charles had friends from school that were Christian, and says he became drawn to that way of life and the world-view of Christianity. Specifically, he says the concepts of “do no harm” and “love your neighbor as yourself—even love your enemy” attracted him to the religion. Charles became involved in local Christmas and Easter pageants and says he “could feel a special spirit and connect with people.”
“I was in love with that,” Charles says, “All that, I was doing undercover because my father would not allow me to be part of all those things, let alone go to church.”
Before he finished high school, Charles had developed a love of the religion and his friends, and wanted to be a part of it. He felt God was calling him to Christianity and he was officially baptized at age 16.
He called his father a “fanatic” Muslim who “took everything to the letter.” Charles says it was seen as a betrayal to convert to another religion, and he was thrown out of his home and almost disowned by his own family.
Charles sought refuge with his local priest and nuns, who helped him complete his school education.
“I went into hiding. I explained my situation to this priest and the nuns,” Charles says, “When they go to do missions, they bring scholarships, so I benefited from that to complete my high school.”
After that, Charles began exploring his options and decided to become a priest.
“I have received so much from Christianity, and how can I give back?” was his rationale.
With war raging in Sierra Leone, Charles went to Guinea and Mali for seminary. He was ordained as a Catholic priest in 2001, serving for almost four years in Guinea.
Charles says that joining the priesthood was a way for him to translate the love, compassion, and help he received from the church when he was suffering with a challenging transition.
“I was being driven by that, so I also, in my ministry, try to translate that help,” Charles says.
He received a scholarship to go to Rome for further theological study, however, during that time Charles grew conflicted about his desire to become a Catholic priest. He disagreed with some of the “stringent” rules of the church.
“I said, ‘I’m going to quit, but quit to come to be part of a church that is more inclusive, more welcoming,’ which I did,” Charles says.
He moved to the U.S. to find a church because of the diversity and freedom in the country. Charles was welcomed into the Church of the Holy Spirit in West Haven and the pastor helped facilitate his transition to Episcopalian, connecting him with the diocese and authorities. In March of this year, he was received by the Episcopalian Church.
“It wasn’t easy,” Charles says.
Christ and the Epiphany is his first assignment as a missional priest, which Charles says is like a part-time priest and spiritual leader, with all the other aspects of the church handled by someone else.
His first concern is to help those in the church live spiritually and religiously, to support them translate what they believe in. Since he’s new, Charles says he’s giving himself some time to see what the traditions and practices are and focus on the strengths, and if there are things he can add that will increase spirits, those will come.
“It’s a church that doesn’t condemn—(it’s a) church that is willing to embrace, to welcome, to help, to guide, and to lead,” Charles says.
He also wants to bring awareness to how the church can reach out to people who are not engaged. He says if the church is involved in “every aspect of human life,” that help parishioners really connect with people.
Also currently serving as chaplain at Yale New Haven Hospital, Charles holds services at the Christ and Epiphany Church, 39 Park Place, East Haven on Sundays at 8 and 10 a.m.