Four Oblate missionaries of Mary Immaculate were among the twenty-five deacons ordained on Saturday 20 July in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame du Congo in Kinshasa by Bishop Charles Ndaka, auxiliary bishop and vicar general of the Archdiocese of Kinshasa. These are the brothers (from left to right): Davidson NANASARA, Michael Adingulu, François Makanda and Christian NWAFOR.
In the evening, the new deacons were celebrated by their community of the de Mazenod scholasticate of Kinshasa-Kintambo. The provincial superior, Father Constant Kienge-Kienge, and members of other Oblate communities in Kinshasa join together, not to mention family members.
The families are Congolese for the brothers Adingulu and Makanda, members of the province of Congo. They're also parents. « Adoptions » Brothers Nanasra (Chad, Oblate Province of Cameroon) and Nwafor (Nigeria, Oblate Province of Cameroon).
Most of the remarks made by Bishop Charles Ndaka during the ordination Mass in Notre-Dame Cathedral of the Congo:
« Stay united with Christ »recommended Bishop Ndaka to the 25 religious whom he will order in a few minutes.
« Your vocation and your diaconal ordination are a grace. The Church of Kinshasa is honoured. We say thank God. Thank you for answering yes. And thank you to your parents and trainers from the catechists and escorts.
The Lord calls you by his pure grace more than for your merits. He calls each of you with his personal history. Everyone by his name to be a servant. You can be scared. Like the prophet Jeremiah. The Lord transforms you, gives you his strength.
You will be deacons for the service of charity to the poor. The first act of charity: faith, the word of God. Live what you have taught. May the word of God inspire your whole life.
Be obedient. To obey is to accept God's plan, to renounce his own preferences. Don't get lost in personal projects.
Singleness will be a source of pastoral fertility in the world. Stay united with Christ. Without Jesus, we can do nothing. Prayer of the hours will be a tool of intimacy with the Lord and love for his people. »
At the assembly, Bishop Ndaka asked to pray for the deacons, to help them in this way, since the ministry can only be accomplished with the grace of the Lord.
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