Newly Ordained Deacons in Cameroon’s Douala Archdiocese Urged to “give up everything”, Serve the Poor

He added, “If you think it is too difficult, withdraw. This is serious. If you are not ready to give everything, to follow Christ and serve the poor, then it is not your path.”

He cautioned against seeking prestige in ministry, inviting the Deacons-elect to learn the true meaning of being called.

“The servant is the one who works for others, who helps others to flourish and grow. He is the one who renounces everything,” the Catholic Church leader said.

Archbishop Kleda underscored the importance of humility in service, saying, “Each by humility must consider others as superior to himself… not because they are better, but because we must show ourselves as their servants.”

The 66-year-old Catholic Archbishop, who started his Episcopal Ministry in February 2001 as Bishop of Cameroon’s Batouri Diocese reminded the Deacons-elect that “conversion is a daily process, one that requires a change of heart, a willingness to forgive, and the grace to truly love others beyond pride or self-interest.

More in Africa

How Salesians in Nigeria Are Addressing Challenges of Traditional Religions, Quick Wealth Pursuits among Youths

Read the article

He challenged the newly Deacons-elect not to view their vocation as a personal achievement or a path to social elevation, but as a calling to “imitate Christ’s humility, simplicity, and sacrificial love.”

“We are here not to be served, but to serve others. This is what we have to do in our daily life,” the Catholic Archbishop said.

Archbishop Kleda also urged parents of the Deacons-elect not to see their sons’ vocation as an “investment or a source of pride, but as a gift to the Church and a life of selfless service that must be supported with understanding and prayer.”

Calling attention to the ultimate model of service, he recalled, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life in ransom for a multitude.”

Archbishop Kleda challenged the Deacons-elect to adopt this model in their ministry, saying, “We must be his servants, learn every day to be his servants. It is not a matter of pride.”

“Christ has called us to live humbly, to be slaves, to be servants. Every day we must make a choice — to be servants of Jesus Christ, servants of our brothers,” the Archbishop affirmed.

Jude Atemanke is a Cameroonian journalist with a passion for Catholic Church communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Buea in Cameroon. Currently, Jude serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.