The Lord calls, consecrates and sends us!

On 14th February 2015, the Consolata Missionaries in Kenya celebrated in advance the feast of our Founder Bl. Allamano and gave a special gift for the whole Church with the ordination of six deacons (Gregory Mduda, Domnick Otieno, Benard Agesa, Dieudonné Mukadi, Marco Emilio, and Yeinson Ospina) and seven priests (Luke Nyachio, David Onyango, Jeremiah Mutua, Alexander Nthenge, James Murimi, Victor Wafula and Urbanus Mulati). At the same time, two Camillian priests were also ordained.

The theme chosen for the celebration was, “The Lord calls, consecrates and sends us”, having as reference the year of Consecrated Life, the vocational history and the mission of each ordained.

In a good Kenyan atmosphere where everyone is invited to the celebration, the first guests arrived at the Consolata Institute of Philosophy (local of the celebration) at around 7 am and gradually the place was filled with colors and smiles. At 10 am the smiles and colors intensified with the entrance song that read in Kiswahili “Njoni tumfanyie shangwe Mungu wetu” (come all praise our God). In fact, the mood was of much joy in a procession of more than 150 priests and deacons and an assembly of almost 2000 people. Among the priests were the Superior General of the Consolata Missionaries, as well as his vice and the General Councilor for Africa, who now are in the Kenya-Ugandan Region doing the Canonical Visitation.

The president of the celebration, Bishop Emmanuel Okombo, during his homily, drew attention of those present to the fact that we should not only look for the physical appearance of the new ministers of the Church. Rather, we should be more concerned with what they represent in our midst and what they have to offer us, so that we can all help them to be faithful servants of the Lord. One of the representatives of the newly ordained, during his thanksgiving speech, invited his colleagues in the priestly and diaconal ministry to be humble and be at the service of all.