Priesthood “neither cultural association nor labour union”: Catholic Archbishop to Newly Ordained Priests in Angola

“The Priest is a man of God, a man of the Church, and a man for his brothers. He is taken from among the people not to elevate himself, but to serve in the name of Christ himself, the Head of the Church,” the Catholic Church leader said.

In being taken from among the people, the Angolan member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans/Holy Ghost Fathers/CSSp.) emphasized, a Priest is to prioritize service and remain cautious against any form of exaltation. 

The Priest, he went on to say, is “not as a boss or any kind of manager, but as a servant, shepherd, teacher, and Priest in the image of Jesus.”

“You were chosen from among men and appointed on behalf of men to care for the things of God; not for personal glory, but to please only God, who called you,” Archbishop Mbilingi told the four Priests-elect.

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He continued, “You are about to be promoted to the Order of the Presbyterate. Consider that, by exercising the Ministry of Holy Orders, you will participate in the mission of Christ, the only Teacher.”

“This mission must be exercised with humility, closeness, and a spirit of communion. The Priest must be close to his Bishop, his fellow Priests, and the people he serves. There must be no distance in the heart of one ordained to love and care,” Archbishop Mbilingi said. 

The 67-year-old Catholic Church leader, who previously served as President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) urged the four Priests-elect to “be faithful to God’s call, to keek to please God, not yourselves.”

“True Priestly joy is born from a life that is given,” he said, adding, “Be close to God in daily prayer; be close to the Bishop in communion and obedience; be close to your brother Priests in fraternal spirit; be close to God’s people in joyful and humble service; be shepherds with the smell of the sheep. The people should recognize in you men of prayer, sacrifice, and compassion. Be holy Priests; be happy Priests; be Priests after the Heart of Jesus.”

Archbishop Mbilingi went on to underscore the need for Priests to be prayerful, and appealed, “Do not forget to read and meditate diligently on the Word of God.” 

“Personal prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the meditation on Scriptures are the pillars of Priestly spirituality. Only doctrine born from prayer touches the heart of the people. Only the example of a prayerful life convinces and edifies the community,” he emphasized. 

Archbishop Mbilingi exhorted the Priests-elect to be visible faces of God’s mercy, saying, “I ask you: do not tire of being merciful. Forgive as the Father forgives; welcome as Jesus welcomes.” 

João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate.