“As a prophet, the Priest be concerned about the people of God; he has to be true and faithful to God and the message,” Bishop Mendes emphasized, adding, “That's why he encounters difficulties; but he has to stand firm.”
He told the member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap.) he was to ordain Priest to follow in the footsteps of his patron Saint, St. Francis of Assisi.
“St. Francis of Assisi was the first prophet; he is considered the most popular saint of the first millennium, a beloved patrimony of the world, not only of the Church but of humanity, father of ecology, universal brother, the Great St. Francis of Assisi,” the Cape Verdean member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost Fathers/Spiritans/CSSp) said.
He added, “What a grace for you to be a Capuchin, to have St. Francis of Assisi as your patron Saint, an inescapable figure, certainly worth remembering here, and one you can draw inspiration from.”
The 60-year-old Catholic Bishop called upon Deacon Moreira to take note of the mission of Priests. He said, “The Priest has the mission of sanctifying and the task of guiding the people of God, above all by celebrating Divine Worship and feeding the people of God with the Eucharist.”
“The Priestly ministry demands holiness,” he further said, and added, “To be holy, the Priest needs to celebrate the Eucharist, celebrating with faith, piety, love, effort, and dignity.”
Bishop Mendes continued, “The Church, the Eucharist, and the Priest are inseparable, and go hand in hand with Priestly holiness and charity.”
“There is no Eucharist without a Priest; there must be a Priest to celebrate the Eucharist. But to be holy, the Priest must also have a Eucharistic life, so unite yourself ever more closely to Jesus Christ, the High and Eternal Priest,” he explained.
Bishop Mendes continued, “While it is true that the Sacrament gives the grace to the Priest, he must also remember that this does not necessarily mean that the Priest is a superman free of errors and even of sins and faults, which is why we must commit to pray for Priests.”
In his maiden speech as Priest, Fr. Moreira expressed his “profound gratitude” to God for receiving the grace of the Priesthood.
