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Exercise “respect, zeal” in Priestly Ministry: Catholic Archbishop in Angola to New Priest

Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi with Fr. Bernardo Inácio de Lourdes Salvador. Credit: Archdiocese of Lubango

Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi of Angola’s Lubango Archdiocese has emphasized the importance of enthusiasm and mutual respect in the ministry of the Clergy. 

In his homily during the February 10 Priestly ordination of Deacon Bernardo Inácio de Lourdes Salvador, Archbishop Mbilingi asked the Deacon to see himself as having been “chosen by the Lord Jesus, so that by exercising the Priestly office publicly in the Church, in the name of Jesus, on behalf of all men, he may continue the mission of Jesus himself.”

“Exercise respect, zeal and loyalty in your service to the people of God,” the Catholic Archbishop said during the event that was held at St. Benedict Tchivinguiro Parish of Lubango Archdiocese.

The Angolan-born member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit under the protection of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Holy Ghost Fathers/Spiritans) urged Deacon Salvador to strive to engage in the “tireless pursuit of holiness for himself and for those entrusted to him.”

“Consider the transcendence of the supernatural power that Christ has placed in your hands,” he said, and added, “May your hands never become unworthy of exercising this supernatural power and may your hands one day, when you come into the presence of the Lord, be full, well filled with all that Christ expects of them.”

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The 66-year-old Catholic Church leader, who previously served as President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conference of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) went on to reiterate the need to strive for holiness, saying, “What does Christ expect from your hands? He expects miracles of holiness and conversion from your hands; first, your own holiness and the holiness of those entrusted to you.”

In his maiden speech as Priest, Fr. Salvador said that the “guarantor of the effectiveness of his ministry is Our Lord Jesus Christ”, and added, “Being a Priest means being at the service of everyone, in what concerns the ways of God.”

João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate.