At Priestly Ordination in Kenya, Catholic Bishop Highlights Priests’ “job description”

“Without the people, the Priest has no job, has no meaning and his mission becomes impossible,” Bishop Mejía said during the ordination event that was held at St. Joseph's the Worker Kangemi Parish of Kenya’s Nairobi Archdiocese.

Making reference to the Letter to the Hebrews, the 84-year-old native of Colombia added, “A Priest is selected from among the people and is appointed to represent the people in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.”

Credit: ACI Africa

As pastor, a Catholic Priest has also the role of teaching and announcing the good news of Jesus Christ, offering guidance to members of the community, and building up the communion of the Church.

“The grace of God makes him (Priest) an instrument of the Spirit for others through the sacraments and Jesus’ amplifier of the community,” Bishop Mejía said, adding, “His mission in this respect is to make the community one and only at the image of God in union with the will of the Father.”

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He reiterated, “As teacher and master, the Priest has to evangelize the community.”

Highlighting the role of a Catholic Priest as king, Bishop Mejía cautioned against falling into the temptation to portray “an authoritarian attitude of power”.

The Nairobi-based Catholic Bishop who retired from the pastoral care of Soddo Apostolic Vicariate in January 2014 aged 75 expressed his awareness of the “many challenges” Priests have to address in their line of duty today.

“It is not easy to be a teacher, a guide, and a leader of a community today. Priests have many challenges and are ready to face them trusting in our support and the grace of God,” Bishop Mejía said.

He went on to call upon the Laity to support members of the Clergy, saying, “Priests are like any other human beings; they are fragile; they are weak; they have limitations; they need the support of the people.”

Members of Catholic Women Association (CWA) welcoming Bishop Meija at St. Joseph's the worker Catholic Parish, Kangemi. Credit: ACI Africa.

“The Priests are not asking for material salary to enrich themselves, but they have the right to expect the support of the people through prayers of the church,” Bishop Mejía said.

The seven Jesuit Deacons ordained Priests during the July 2 event included, Edwin Onyango, James Mugwe, Bonface Mutuku, Kiprono Ngetich, Gabriel Abonyo, Dindi Ong'aria, and Sammy Wafula. Simplicious Mugeni was ordained a Priest for Missionaries of Africa.

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.