Fr. Wycliffe Mumia ordained priest in Kakamega
On Friday 22 July 2022 Deacon Wycliffe Mumia was ordained a priest in Kenya by the Bishop of the Diocese of Kakamega, Mgr. Joseph Obanyi. The celebration took place at St. Bakhita Ebusiratsi school, in Luanda parish. He was ordained together with other religious of the Consolata, members of Mill Hill and some deacons of the Diocese of Kakamega.
In his homily the bishop explained the importance of the priesthood, quoting Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who wrote that a priest will never lose his importance in a secular society full of relativistic attitudes. Modern man will pass; the priesthood is here to stay, whatever the challenges that the Church, and the priest as a person, may face.
A gift no one deserves
To underline the dignity of the priesthood, the bishop said that only a priest has been given the power to “command” God, calling him down to be present on the altar at the Eucharistic consecration. Only the priest can give absolution from sins; no other creature in heaven or on earth has been given this, except the priest.
The priest must therefore remember to take care of the gift of priesthood, because no one deserves it — but God “takes the risk” and entrusts it to us out of love. The bishop insisted that the priest takes part in the programme of Christ himself: calling people to repent and to believe in the Gospel, because the Kingdom of God is near.
Many Orionine confreres and seminarians and the Little Missionary Sisters of Charity attended the ordination, a great feast in the Region of Kenya as it received a new priest. Wycliffe is the fourteenth Kenyan priest of the Congregation, and many other young men are in formation. God bless Kenya.
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