Deacon ordination of three Comboni missionary scholastics in Uganda

Before the ordination, the Bishop wanted to meet with the three candidates, explaining to them why he had decided to ordain them on a Thursday, explaining that it is his policy to celebrate any ordination on the same weekly day on which Christ instituted the sacraments of the Eucharist and Priesthood (Holy Thursday). “The faithful must be able to grasp and deepen the close bond that exists between the two sacraments,” he pointed out.

During his homily, Bishop Wanok reminded the three candidates that their ordination is not a ‘promotion’, but a radical ‘insertion into service’. “You must never forget that being Christian means becoming ‘servants’, following the example of Christ, who emptied himself, taking the form of a slave” (cf. Phil 2:6-11).

He then thanked the Comboni missionaries for planting the seed of faith among the Lango people of the Lira diocese, saying: “You are our ‘grandparents in the faith’ and I strongly urge you never to abandon your grandchildren.”

Present at the celebration were many members of the Comboni Family: fathers, brothers and sisters, as well as a good number of diocesan priests and of other religious congregations. Father Anthony Kimbowa Kibira, provincial superior of the Comboni Province of Uganda, invited everyone to experience the celebration as a moment of inspiration, “especially the young people who are wondering what they should do with their lives.” He then expressed his ‘dream’ of soon being able to witness the ordination of the first Lango Comboni priest.

Helping our young confreres to grasp the importance of the transition from Initial to Ongoing Formation

From 6th to 8th February, a group of scholastics committed to their first mission experience and brothers in temporary vows met at the Ngetta mission for a first moment of the Ongoing Formation Programme. The meeting was facilitated by Fathers Collins Sampa Mwesih, Edward Kanyike Mayanja, and Anthony Kimbowa Kibira, the Provincial Superior. It was an opportune time to share the experiences our young confreres are having in a mission context. Emphasis was placed on the “dream”, articulated by the 19th General Chapter, of helping our confreres make a meaningful transition from Initial Formation to Ongoing Formation.