UGANDA: Bishop of Lira Appeals to Christians To Help Newly Ordained Ministers Live Their Vows
Rt. Rev. Santus Lino Wanok flanked by the priests in a group photo after the official opening of St. Peter Claver Ober Parish in Lira
Ogwal Deogracious
“Do not look at these young men as material for marriage”. This was a strong warning issued by the Bishop of Lira Diocese Rt. Rev Sanctus Lino Wanok to young ladies during the ordination of one priest and five deacons at Uganda Martyrs Cathedral, Lira.
Shortly after presentation of the candidates, the Bishop strongly warned young ladies to respect the servants of God and stop enticing them to fall in to temptation.
He went on to stressed that a deacon or a priest is ordained and set apart for special mission entrusted to them by Christ the reason why they are no longer materials for marriage.
The Bishop said to ladies in the local dialect, “Anyira wa tima ber” meaning ‘young girls, please do me a favor: treat these candidates as your brothers and not materials for marriage because they are set apart for special mission, adding that often times ladies have made some priests to fail to observe the vow of celibacy.
The Bishop also warned the parents of the candidates to stop distracting them from embracing the mission by giving them heavy family responsibilities among other engagements.
He congratulated the newly ordained priest and deacons upon their perseverance and successful completion of the noble course. However, he reminded them to observe the vow of obedience so as to succeed as they strive to promote the Kingdom of God in their various communities.
The ordination of priest and deacons was presided over by Rt. Rev Sanctus Lino Wanok and flanked by the Bishop-emeritus of Lira Diocese Rt. Rev. Joseph Franzelli.
The priests saw Rev Deacon Haron Okello being ordained a priest and seminarians Isaac Ojok from Aloi, Rogers Okello from Omoro, Douglas Ogwal from Teboke, Emmanuel Opio Etam and Moses Edyomo from Dokolo respectively being ordained as deacons.
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