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Bishop Firmino David of Angola’s Catholic Diocese of Sumbe has urged the 28 Deacons he ordained Priests to embrace the mission, striving to live a life of service, prayer, and communion with the people of God.
Candidates for Holy Orders, coming from among the people of God and sent back to the people of God to serve them, must steer off clericalism, the tendency, on the part of the Clergy, to emphasize authority and influence to the detriment of the Laity, Bishop Neil Augustine Frank of South Africa’s Catholic Diocese of Mariannhill has said.
Bishop Belmiro Cuica Chissengueti of the Catholic Diocese of Cabinda in Angola has urged two members of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (CSSp./Holy Ghost Fathers/Spiritans) he ordained Priests to shun partisan politics.
The Secretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Evangelization has told the 32 Deacons he ordained Priests in Nigeria that the Priesthood is a mission of service, not an opportunity to exercise authority characterized with self-interests.
The four newly ordained Priests for the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi (ADN) have been urged to understand their identity as servants of the people of God and manifest it in their Priestly ministry.
Priestly ordination and ministry is about participating in the mission of the person of Jesus Christ and therefore distinguished from human associations and other earthly groupings, Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi of Angola’s Catholic Archdiocese of Lubango has said.
Bishop Willy Ngumbi Ngengele of the Catholic Diocese of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has cautioned the 15 Deacons he ordained Priests against the dangers of being obsessed with power, amassing wealth, and engaging in inappropriate relationships.
Archbishop Zeferino Zeca Martins of the Catholic Archdiocese of Huambo in Angola has called upon the Deacons and Priests he ordained on February 15 to prioritize their friendship with God through prayer.
The representative of the Holy Father in Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe has called upon the 14 Priests and Deacon he ordained on December 14 to foster unity in their ministry among the people of God.
It is essential that members of the Clergy preside over and celebrate the Sacraments of the Church adorned in proper and appropriate vestments, Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kisumu in Kenya has said.
The people of God put their trust and hope in those being admitted to Holy Orders, expecting them to bear “abundant fruits of holiness,” Bishop Emílio Sumbelelo of the Catholic Diocese of Viana in Angola has said.
The Archbishop of Bangui Archdiocese in the Central African Republic (CAR) has urged the three Deacons he ordained to Priests to embody Christ’s love through service and closeness to their communities.
Archbishop Filomeno do Nascimento Vieira Dias of the Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda has urged eight Deacons he ordained Priests to embody the spirit of the Good Shepherd, being at the service of others after the example of Jesus Christ.
The number of Catholic Priests serving in Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Nsukka has surpassed 400, following the ordination of 23 new Priests on August 10.
Bishop François Xavier Ghanbodè Gnonhossou of the Catholic Diocese of Dassa-Zoumé in Togo has urged the 19 Priests he ordained to nurture their relationship with the person of Jesus Christ as “authentic” witnesses to truth and justice.
Bishop Melchisedec Sikuli Paluku of the Catholic Diocese of Butembo-Beni in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has exhorted the four Priests and 23 Deacons he ordained to focus on “doing good” as members of the Clergy.
Priests are to be preoccupied with pastoral duties, reaching out to the people of God after the example of Jesus Christ and at His command, Bishop Gerald Mamman Musa of the Catholic Diocese of Katsina in Nigeria has said.
Priesthood comes with the possibility to exercise power and authority, a situation that Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpaleke of Nigeria’s Catholic Diocese of Ekwulobia (CADEK) has described as “dangerous” if not exercised with caution.
Members of the Clergy need to be conscious of the fact that some of the people of God, who present themselves as friends are not genuine, Archbishop Isaac Amani Massawe of the Catholic Archdiocese of Arusha in Tanzania has said.
Bishop António Francisco Jaca of Angola’s Catholic Diocese of Benguela has called upon the 14 Priests and a Deacon he ordained on June 29, to be ready to serve the Church anywhere and with joy.