⛪ Parish Clergy
Administrator (Pastor): Reverend Edward Tembo, C.I.C.M.
Biography of Reverend Edward Tembo, C.I.C.M.
Administrator / Pastor
Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, Louisburg, North Carolina
Reverend Edward Tembo, C.I.C.M., is a priest of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (C.I.C.M.), also known as Missionhurst, a missionary religious congregation founded in 1862 in Belgium. His priestly vocation and missionary spirit have been shaped by the C.I.C.M.’s charism to bring the Good News of Christ to communities around the world, particularly where the Gospel has not yet been deeply rooted.
Originally from Zambia, Fr. Tembo discerned his religious calling early in life. He entered formation with the C.I.C.M. and underwent his theological and pastoral training with dedication, preparing himself for both missionary and pastoral ministry. His formation included academic studies, spiritual development, and missionary training across various cultural contexts, which deeply enriched his pastoral sensitivity and leadership skills.
He was ordained to the priesthood on August 12, 2017, and was soon after assigned to the United States Province of Missionhurst-C.I.C.M., serving in diverse pastoral settings. His approach to ministry is marked by deep humility, pastoral care, and a genuine love for community engagement.
In recent years, Fr. Tembo was appointed as the Administrator and Pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Louisburg, North Carolina. Under his leadership, the parish has experienced renewed pastoral energy, cultural inclusivity, and growth in both spiritual life and community service. He is also involved in various diocesan and missionary outreach efforts, aligning the parish mission with the broader Catholic commitment to evangelization, service, and social justice.
Father Tembo’s service reflects the C.I.C.M. motto: “Cor Unum et Anima Una” — One Heart and One Soul. He continues to be a faithful shepherd to the people of God in Louisburg, inspiring others with his missionary zeal, compassion, and unwavering dedication to the Church.
Deacon: Deacon Patrick (Pat) McIlmoyle
Family & Personal Life
He is married to Robin, and together they are blessed with three children—Rebecca Perez (and her husband Ricky), Daniel McIlmoyle, and Katherine Printzenhoff (and her husband Jason). He also has three sisters: Ruth Reiser, Maureen McIlmoyle, and Erin Maxwell dioceseofraleigh.org.
Professional Background
Before his ordination, Pat had a distinguished career at IBM where he worked as a computer engineer, specializing in microprocessor circuit design dioceseofraleigh.org.
Spiritual Formation & Vocation Journey
While a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Raleigh, Deacon Pat engaged deeply in social justice ministries, particularly in advocacy for immigration reform. In 2004, he attended a diaconate information session at St. Raphael’s—this sparked his discernment of a vocation. With the full support of his wife, he applied to the diocesan formation program and was ordained in 2010 dioceseofraleigh.org.
Parish Assignment & Ministry
He currently serves at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in Louisburg, North Carolina dioceseofraleigh.org, his home parish assignment post-ordination.
Interests & Hobbies
Outside his work and ministry, Deacon Pat finds rejuvenation in the outdoors. He enjoys hiking, backpacking, cycling, and camping dioceseofraleigh.org+1olgcsb.org+1.
Ministry Focus & Insights
- A highlight of his diaconal ministry is learning Spanish and being intimately involved in the life of his parish community, especially among its Spanish-speaking members reddit.com+15dioceseofraleigh.org+15catholicnewsherald.com+15.
- On the challenges of his vocation: balancing ministry with marital, familial, professional, and personal responsibilities was demanding—“it took me about two years before I felt I was properly meeting all my obligations.” He finds strong support in his diocese’s structure, which includes supervisory agreements to help deacons maintain healthy commitment levels dioceseofraleigh.org.
- For those considering the diaconate, he advises: “pray, be faithful to the process, give the best of yourself, and be open and at peace with where God will lead you” dioceseofraleigh.org.
Spiritual Joy & Devotion
- He describes his greatest joy in ministry as “being involved in the lives of God’s people in joy and sorrow,” sharing in both celebrations and struggles dioceseofraleigh.org.
- His favorite scripture is the Gospel of Luke, appreciated for its focus on those in need, women, and the Holy Spirit dioceseofraleigh.org.
- His patron saint is St. Francis of Assisi, whom he admires for returning to the essentials of faith, his courage in following God’s call, and his unafraid spirit .
Concluding Reflection
Deacon Pat McIlmoyle embodies a holistic vocation as a husband, father, engineer, and servant of the Church. Rooted in both social justice and spiritual empathy, he continues to nourish the community at Our Lady of the Rosary with his genuine dedication, pastoral care, and an authentic living of the Gospel.