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Ordination to the Diaconate of Justin Ndhlovu in Rome
Monday, November 14, 2016
Yesterday at the General Curia of the Comboni Missionaries in Rome, Italy, the young Zambian Comboni Missionary, Justin Ndhlovu was ordained a deacon in the presence of his mother, a sister, and priests and friends living in Rome. Bishop Ayuso Guixot Miguel Angel, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue was the presider at the ordination Mass, having as concelebrants Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro of Juba, South Sudan and Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse Gebresilasie, superior general. Many other confreres who work or study in Rome, priests, religious, missionaries, a number of the faithful, and friends of Justin’s and of the Comboni Missionaries attended the ceremony.
Some particular human qualities:
"hospitality, sobriety, patience,
meekness, friendliness,
and a good heart."
In his homily, Bishop Ayuso Guixot reminded the public that Justin has been called to the diaconate to serve the Church and its mission “in the ministry of the word, of the altar and of charity, by being at the service of his brothers and sisters.”
He also added: “From today, in virtue of your ordination to the diaconate, you share in a special way in the mission of the Church and you prepare yourself for the priesthood.” He referred to two important verbs in the mission of the Church: to announce and to serve. He then quoted Pope Francis’ sermon to deacons of May 29 in St. Peter’s Square: “Apostle and servant are two terms that go together, and cannot be separated. They are the two sides of the same coin: those who announce Jesus are called to serve, and those who serve announce Jesus.”
Bishop Ayuso went on to explain how a deacon is entrusted with two tasks that are the pillars of the diaconate: “One is prayer and the other is service.”
The bishop concluded his homily underlining how important it is not to discard faith and spiritual life together with some particular human qualities.
Again he quoted an important passage from the Holy Father’s general audience of November 12, 2014: “Through faith and spiritual life, that cannot be forgotten, St. Paul, writing to Timothy and Titus, lists some qualities that are exquisitely human: hospitality, sobriety, patience, meekness, friendliness, a good heart. These are the basic alphabet and the grammar of ministry. Because, without this predisposition, so beautiful and genuine, to meet, to know, to dialogue, to appreciate and to relate to your brothers and sisters in a respectful and sincere way, it is not possible to offer a service and a witness that will be truly joyous and credible.”
