Saurimo: Three deacons and two priests were ordained today, Sunday, during a solemn mass to close the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Diocese of Saurimo, presided over by the archbishop of the same archdiocese, Dom Jos© Imbamba. They are Deacons Ant³nio Muiuca Chisua Luciano, Jos© Samuel Tchupoco Luiz, Pinto Coragem Rel³gio, and Fathers Gon§alo de Amaral Sicaleta and Michel Yava Cafuta Cahilo.
According to Angola Press News Agency, during the ceremony, enlivened with prayers, songs, and consecratory dance, the new deacons and priests were canonically ordained, their hands anointed, and received the paten and chalice from the Archbishop of Saurimo. In his homily, Bishop Jos© Imbamba urged the priests to avoid vanity, presumption, and a spirit of grandeur, and to place God at the center of their attention.
He added that the deacon is called to administer God's goods and should love the poor, the sick, orphans, and widows, and also dedicate themselves to other works of charity, always having Jesus Christ as their guide and inspiring model.
The Archdiocese of Saurimo currently has 25 priests and three deacons. In the Catholic Church, a deacon is the first degree of the order, assisting bishops and presbyters in charitable work, proclaiming the Word, and administering certain sacraments. A priest is the second degree of the order, ordained to spiritually lead a community.
The Mass was attended by the Apostolic Nuncio to Angola, Bishop Kryspin Dubiel, the Archbishops and Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Angola and So Tom© and Prncipe (CEAST), Episcopal Vicars, Reverend Priests of the diocesan clergy and superiors of various religious congregations, rectors, the provincial governor of Lunda Sul, Daniel Neto, the vice-governor of Moxico, Elizabeth Ayala, and representatives of the governments of Moxico Leste and Lunda Norte.
