Do Not Introduce Your Own “fashion” to the Church: Kenyan Prelate at Ordination

The six who were ordained Deacons included Subrat Nayak from India, Agbasoa Guylain from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Kalagura Nikhil from India. The other three, all from Cameroon, were Ntein Peter Yong, Ngi Malvin and Mufua Chia Leonard.

And from Malaysia, Herman Menjuan was ordained a Priest at the Sunday ordination that took place at St Joseph and Mary Shauri Moyo parish of the Archdiocese of Nairobi.

Prior to the Sunday ceremony, the members of the Mill Hill Missionaries who were to be ordained took their perpetual vows at the Mill Hill Missionary Formation Center in Nairobi.

Addressing those who were to be ordained Deacons during the Sunday ceremony that was live streamed on Facebook and YouTube, Bishop Kamau said, “The Lord has set the example for you to follow. As Deacons, you will serve Jesus Christ who was known among the Disciples as the one who served others. Do the will of God generously, serve God and man and mankind with joy.”

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“Let the doctrine you teach be true nourishment for the people of God. Let the example of your life attract the followers of Christ so that by word and action, you may build up the house which is God’s Church,” the 65-year-old Kenyan Bishop told Deacon Herman.

He added, “Remember that you are chosen among those people and appointed to act for them in relation to God; therefore, do your part in the work of Christ, the Priest with genuine joy and love and put the concerns of Christ before your own.”

In an interview shared by the Missionary Society, Rev. Herman said that he is happy to pave the way for others in the call to become missionaries especially in the congregation of Mill Hill Missionaries in which he said he was the first in his country.

“I am the first Malaysian to become a Mill Hill Missionary,” he said, and added that the Society of Apostolic Life started recruiting students in the country in 2011.

He further shared, “My journey to become a member of the Mill Hill Missionaries hasn’t been easy…It is a joy to become a Priest, a Missionary and God’s instrument. I sincerely thank those who have stood by me and supported me through my formation.”

Bishop Kamau said that the ordination was an invitation for the seven “to share in the Priesthood of the Bishops”.

“Our brothers are now to be raised to the order of Priest and the order of Deacons,” the Kenyan Bishop said.

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He added, “Brothers and sisters, I would like to consider carefully the ministries to which they are to be promoted in the Church. They are to serve Christ the teacher, Priest and Pastor to make the Church grow into the People of God and the temple of the Holy Spirit. They are called to share in the Priesthood of the Bishops”

Bishop Kamau told members of the faithful who gathered to witness the ordination to create a conducive environment for the Deacons and Priest’s work and to desist from interfering in their lives.

“These are now my children. Don’t interfere with their lives,” the Prelate said lightheartedly, and added, “From our side in the Church, we do not interfere with your families. So, don’t interfere with our families.”

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.