The Comboni Province of Ethiopia has a new priest: Abba Tamirat Tegegn

Hembecho’s St Michael Catholic Parish, run by the Capuchin Friars in Sodo Apostolic Vicariate, Sothern Ethiopia, dressed up to host the priestly ordination of one of its sons. The morning rain did not deter the faithful, clad in their feast or traditional dresses, to make their way and to fill the big square temple built around a huge alter sustained by twelve columns. Later on, the sun graced the event with its radiant light.

Bishop Tsegaye Keneni, Sodo’s Apostolic Vicar, presided over the ordination Eucharist and conferred the ordination. About forty priests – local clergy from Sodo and Hawassa Apostic Vicariates and missionaries from various Institutes, a number of religious sisters and two deacons also witnessed Abba Tamirat’s ordination.

The liturgy, conducted in Amharic and Wolaytta, went on for over three hours. The new priest chose Luke 10:1-11 as the Gospel for his ordination.

Bishop Tsegaye, in his homily, underlined that God calls people from within the family; that Abba Tamirat is ordained to be at the service of the Eucharist which is at the centre of Christian life; that his ministry represents the local church of Sodo in the mission of the universal Church of Christ; that the faithful are to support him with their prayers.

After the bishops’ homily, Tamirat’s parents presented their son for ordination.

Fr Asfaha Yohannis, Ethiopia’s MCCJ provincial superior, dressed the newly ordained priest in his liturgical garments. At the thanksgiving, Fr Asfaha expressed his gratitude to God, the Bishop and Abba Tamirat, his parents, the parish and all the presents. He took the opportunity to evoke St Daniel Comboni’s life and charism.

The newly ordained priest also had a word of thanks in English, Amharic and Wolaytta.

At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, many participants came forward to greet the new Comboni Missionary priest and bless him with many presents, some money and a young bull. The ordination ceremony concluded with a fraternal lunch where many traditional and tasty dishes were served to the participants.

Abba Tamirat returns to Peru at the beginning of November. He concluded his theological formation in Lima at the beginning of this year and was appointed by the General Council to start his priestly missionary ministry in the MCCJ Province of Peru.
Fr José Vieira, mccj
Photo: Fr Pedro Pablo, mccj