“You are Deacons of synodality”: Catholic Bishop to Newly Ordained in Kenya, Urges Fostering of Dialogue in Communities

Those ordained were Seminarians Parfait Kijika Maishu from Cameroon, Jeremie Efumo Liyanda from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Julius Oketch Agunda from Kenya, Brian Mbanginu Ndong from Cameroon, Michael Ouma Owuor from Kenya, Wilson Karubaga from Uganda, and Emmanuel Odongo from Uganda.

In his homily, Bishop Oballa cautioned the Deacons against “overconfidence” and relying on oneself in mission.

“Overconfidence can be an obstacle to one’s vocation,” he said, and added, “One begins to rely on oneself, one’s skills, one’s talents, one’s abilities and one’s capabilities and yet what the mission calls for is to rely on God.”

The Deacons were also urged to embrace humility and to seek to remain servants even as they take up more positions of leadership in their calling.

“We all remain deacons. Not even that transition into Priesthood, to Episcopate takes away the readiness to serve the Lord’s people,” Bishop Oballa said, and added, “The Deacons then, remain at the service of the Lord’s table and at the service of leading the Lord’s people in charity.”

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The Deacons were encouraged to carry out their duties with joy and faithfulness.

In his homily, Bishop Oballa told the seven Deacons-elect to seek to embody charity, strengthening the people of God with sacraments.

He called them to be bold in their vocation, saying, “The Lord gives you courage to call out violence in society and any selfishness that makes people to amass wealth while their brothers and sisters are going hungry, to remind the people of God to embrace the culture of life, to embrace non-violence, and in the culture of hopelessness, to embrace hope.”

The Local Ordinary of Ngong Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration in April 2012 reminded those he described as “the magnificent seven” of their calling to be prophets of God.

“Your call is not by chance. It is God’s doing to be His prophets of truth in what you preach and say, however much you are rebuked, however much you may be ridiculed, however much you may be tempted to feel like giving up,” he said.

Bishop Oballa continued, “Knowing this is what will give you courage to go against the standards of the world.”

He went on to commend the Deacons-elect for setting aside the desire to do their own will, and refusing to adhere to the world standard “if it feels good do it.”

“You are setting aside any career and marriage and family life and embracing chastity. You are setting aside the aggression towards money and material goods and embracing simple life. You are ready to become servants and indeed, slaves, and there lies your greatness for the greatest is the servant of all, and the first is the slave for all,” he said.

“I guarantee you that you will have your own share of the cross, but the Lord will be there to protect you and to accompany you. This will be your greatness; a greatness that is worth fighting for,” the Kenyan Catholic Church leader added.

Bishop Oballa described Mill Hill Missionaries as a Congregation that purposely targets areas that require primary evangelization.

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He lauded the Mill Hill Missionaries for inspiring growth of vocations in Kenya.

“Growing up, the only missionaries that we knew, those that surrounded us were Mill Hill,” Bishop Oballa said, and added, “I share in the spirit of the Mill Hill Missionaries because it is them that inspired our vocations.”

Agnes Aineah is a Kenyan journalist with a background in digital and newspaper reporting. She holds a Master of Arts in Digital Journalism from the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications and a Bachelor's Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communications from Kenya's Moi University. Agnes currently serves as a journalist for ACI Africa.