“There are bad friends”: Catholic Archbishop in Tanzania Cautions Newly Ordained Priests against Deceptive “friends”

“You are sent to live with love and blessings for all people of all ages,” he emphasized, and continued, “A small child should be safe in your hands; a young person should be safe with you; a sick person should be safe with you; someone in trouble should be safe with you; and someone who has lost their way should be safe in your hands.” 

In their Priestly ministry that puts them in contact with people of God from a variety of backgrounds and mannerisms, the Catholic Archbishop cautioned the Priests-elect against deceptive “friends”.

“The Priest is the father of all,” he said, and added, “Many will come (to you) with different challenges and different joys. Welcome them wisely, as a father; love all people without discrimination, without favoritism and be generous keeping in mind morals and the boundaries of your identity as a Priest.”

“Truly, there are bad friends who deceive Priests with things like alcohol, strange possessions, and other improper acts, claiming to be friends; they are not friends,” he lamented, and appealed, “Our closeness to priests should be a blessing.”

Credit: Radio Maria Tanzania

Bishop Amani, who presided over the Priestly Ordination of six Deacons, five for his Episcopal See and one, a member of the Congregation of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CMF), also known as Claretians, called upon the people of God to pray for Priests “so that they remain faithful to their vows.”

“It is in their faithfulness to their vows and their responsibilities in what they promise that we will receive the blessings that God brings through these our Ministers,” the Catholic Archbishop, who started his Episcopal Ministry in February 2008 as Bishop of Tanzania’s Moshi Diocese said.

Priests, he said, are set apart by the Lord as “a bridge between God and people and also between people and God, just as Jesus was.”

Credit: Radio Maria Tanzania

“A Priest must clearly understand the correct teachings so that by reading the signs of the times, he knows what to do, what to say, and where to go,” Archbishop Amani said, and addressing himself specifically to the six Priests-elect, added, “Jesus has chosen you for His goodness and His plan; stay close to Him, enjoy what He enjoys, reject what He rejects; your close friend has chosen you to be near Him.”

He urged each of the six Priests-elect to be Jesus’ disciple “by listening to Him.”

“Follow Him, and let Him inform you, teach you, enable you to hear what He heard from the Father, and allow Him to send you to represent Him to the people” the Local Ordinary of Arusha Archdiocese following his December 2017 appointment said. 

If you resist the Lord, failing to listen to Him, “you will go out shouting your own things and ruining things. Listen, you are a messenger; deliver the message you were given faithfully,” he told the six Priests-elect. 

Credit: Radio Maria Tanzania

They included, Deacon Vincent Emmanuel Saning’o, Deacon Laurent Adolf Kamenye, Deacon Eustachus Kajungi Cosmas, Deacon Abraham John Logiro, Deacon Julius Tarimo and Deacon Nelson Dominic Shirima, the latter a Claretian Missionary.

(Story continues below)

He urged the Priests-elect to “remain in the love of Jesus,” by keeping His commandments during their Priestly ministry, and through their lifestyle, “show clearly how you fulfill the commandments.”

“Recognize what is lawful and also know what is unlawful for you, so that you avoid it,” Archbishop Amani told the six Priests-elect, and added, “Stand for and protect what you have been entrusted with by God and by the Church.”

Credit: Radio Maria Tanzania

He went on to implore the Priests-elect to shun the desire for unnecessary earthly things and instead embrace the spirit of contentment. 

 “Many people have longed for money so much that they have wandered away from the faith”, he observed, and urged the Priests-elect to be content with the basics of life since “extras beyond that are confusing.”

“What benefit is it, if what you have does not bring blessings?” the Catholic Church leader posed and urged the Priests-elect to be at the service of the people of God “with the Word of God and the Sacraments.”

In remaining faithful to the service of the people of God, he said, Priests “find sufficient joy, and find peace in your vocation and your work.”

Credit: Radio Maria Tanzania

Archbishop Amani called upon the Priests-elect to be available for the Lord’s mission that can be “anywhere”.

“Understand that you can be assigned to ministry anywhere as needed by the Church. It is your duty to learn to live in peace and justice with people with thoughts and ideas different from yours. Do not force people to conform to you,” he cautioned. 

The Local Ordinary of the Arusha called upon the faithful to be understanding and patient with their Priests, saying, “My dear ones, the Priest is human; he has shortcomings along with the gifts and talents. Let us treat each other with gentleness, understanding, and patience.”

Nicholas Waigwa contributed to the writing of this story