New Priests in Angola Urged to be Present in Communities, Walk with the People

He further told the Priests-elect to be the first in the service of the Word, in the celebration of the Sacraments, in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, and in the accompaniment of the groups and movements of your communities.

“Nothing should come before your dedication to God and His people,” he told those he was about to ordain, and added, “Do not forget that we carry a treasure in jars of clay.”

Bishop Hipunyati urged the Priests-elect to live a deep spirituality rooted in God.

“The Priest must above all be a man of prayer, a man who nourishes himself with an intimate life with God, who cultivates this personal and non-negotiable bond with Christ, for it is in prayer that he finds strength, discernment, and light to shepherd the flock entrusted to him,” he said.

He continued, “The Priest is a minister of worship and the sacraments and must therefore celebrate with zeal, especially the Eucharist, which is the heart of Christian life.”

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“Do not deprive the people of God of Mass out of laziness. Celebrate with love and dedication. Pray daily—for yourselves and for the people entrusted to you. Your mission is born from prayer and fidelity to the Word,” the Catholic Church leader said.

He said that Priestly life demands coherence, fidelity, and a spirit of obedience:

“Living as a Priest is not about playing a role, but about being configured to Christ in one's entire being. Be faithful to the Church’s doctrine, live in communion with the Pope, with the Episcopal College, and especially with your Diocesan Bishop,” the Local Ordinary of Ondjiva said.

He continued, “Obedience is not blind submission, but a free adherence to God's plan, which is also manifested through the authority of the Church.”

“Fidelity to the Word and to doctrine cannot be relativized. A Priest who does not pray, who does not live in ecclesial communion, becomes a soulless official, a servant without light. A Priest who prays and sacrifices himself becomes a source of hope and salvation for God’s people,” Bishop Hipunyati said.

He warned about the dangers of activism and superficiality in Priestly life, saying, “A Priest who does not cultivate his intimacy with God becomes a mere church bureaucrat, without fire. Nothing belongs to you; everything is a gift from God. Therefore, be faithful to the gift received. Freely you have received; freely give.”

“The ministry entrusted to you today is a mystery; it does not belong to you. It is a gift and a mission. Therefore, live this calling with reverence and gratitude. The Lord found you worthy of trust, not to exalt you, but to serve with humility and dedication,” Bishop Hipunyati said.

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