On Saturday, 15 February 2020, we experienced a special event in the Comboni province of Congo and the Kinshasa region in particular. André MBALA TOPA and Claude NKWE LUGIRI were ordained priests by the laying on of hands of His Eminence Fridolin Cardinal AMBONGO BESUNGU, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kinshasa and vice-president of CENCO (National Bishop Conference of Congo). Together with two other priests and three deacon from other congregations, our confreres received the triple ministry of Christ: to teach, sanctify and govern the people of God. Under a gentle sunlight gently rocking the skin, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Congo, located in the commune of Lingwala, was the place chosen for this ecclesial event. The mobilization was overwhelming.
From 7:30 a.m. the esplanade of the cathedral was already beginning to be flooded with people who had come from many corners of Kinshasa and elsewhere to participate in this Eucharistic celebration. The Eucharistic celebration began at 09hoo. It was attended by several priests from the archdiocese of Kinshasa as well as the different religious congregations that had presented their candidates. The large Comboni family responded to the call. In fact, all the Comboni confreres of the Kinshasa region, the Comboni Sisters, the lay Comboni Missionaries and the members of Libota lya Comboni (the parents of the Comboni Missionaries) were present. We experienced a unique moment in our province. There was great joy. In his homily the Cardinal exhorted the new priests and deacons to assume their task with all possible seriousness, remembering that it is God Himself who chose each one of them. He asked them to count above all on God who called them. Thus, in order to better carry out their ministry, priests and deacons must be men of prayer and must show deep charity to all. He also exhorted the faithful present at the celebration to accompany the new priests and deacons by praying for them. Mass began at 09:00 and ended at about 13:00.
After Mass, as usual, the new priests greeted and blessed the various people who had come to attend the ordination. It was in a very warm atmosphere. After a short rest, the whole Comboni family, relatives and friends gathered again in the evening to share a glass of friendship in thanksgiving to God for the gift of the priesthood granted to two of our confreres.
By Fr. André MBALA, Mccj.
From 7:30 a.m. the esplanade of the cathedral was already beginning to be flooded with people who had come from many corners of Kinshasa and elsewhere to participate in this Eucharistic celebration. The Eucharistic celebration began at 09hoo. It was attended by several priests from the archdiocese of Kinshasa as well as the different religious congregations that had presented their candidates. The large Comboni family responded to the call. In fact, all the Comboni confreres of the Kinshasa region, the Comboni Sisters, the lay Comboni Missionaries and the members of Libota lya Comboni (the parents of the Comboni Missionaries) were present. We experienced a unique moment in our province. There was great joy. In his homily the Cardinal exhorted the new priests and deacons to assume their task with all possible seriousness, remembering that it is God Himself who chose each one of them. He asked them to count above all on God who called them. Thus, in order to better carry out their ministry, priests and deacons must be men of prayer and must show deep charity to all. He also exhorted the faithful present at the celebration to accompany the new priests and deacons by praying for them. Mass began at 09:00 and ended at about 13:00.
After Mass, as usual, the new priests greeted and blessed the various people who had come to attend the ordination. It was in a very warm atmosphere. After a short rest, the whole Comboni family, relatives and friends gathered again in the evening to share a glass of friendship in thanksgiving to God for the gift of the priesthood granted to two of our confreres.
By Fr. André MBALA, Mccj.
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