Five brothers ordained deacons at Kandisi
On the first day of the year and of the month, on the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, five young Orionines were ordained deacons at Kandisi Catholic Parish. Mass began at half past ten, and parishioners, priests, religious men and women and friends of the candidates gathered in good time to witness this great step taken by those they love.
The ordaining bishop was the Rt. Rev. Rodrigo Mejía Saldarriaga, a Jesuit, originally from Colombia, who had by then been working in Africa for sixty years.
You will be deacons for ever
In his homily the bishop gave a special message to the five candidates. He explained the meaning of the word deacon, from the Greek diakonos, meaning service, and told the brothers that they are chosen to serve and not to be served.
The diaconate being the first level of Ordination, on the way to priesthood, this should not cancel the state of being a deacon: even though you will be deacons for a time, the bishop emphasised, you will remain deacons for ever, even if you become priests or bishops.
As deacons, he added, you are called to be witnesses through teaching, preaching, community building and above all through your lives. A deacon is a servant of humankind: just as in the first community deacons helped distribute food to those in need, through the service of mercy.
“Your motivation and attitude in service to humankind will show a big difference.”
Bishop Rodrigo Mejía Saldarriaga SJThese services to humanity are carried out by non-governmental organisations too; therefore in your service as deacons the difference must lie in motivation and attitude, guided by faith and by the mind of Christ. To be authentic witnesses in serving, follow the example of Jesus who washed the disciples’ feet, and the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a model of service, who said: I am the servant of the Lord.
We thank God for the gift of five new deacons: Deacon Antonio Jose from the Philippines, Deacons Christopher, Vijay and Baskar from India, and Deacon Georges from Ivory Coast. The Don Orione family is growing, and we thank God. God bless their service.
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