By Serge St-Arneault, M.Afr. Director of the Afrika Centre, Montreal.
On May 27, 2017, I was privileged to take part of the priestly ordination of 14 new priests, among them some Jesuits and Capuchins together with diocesan priests. Two thousands Christians gathered inside the Cathedral of Child Jesus in Lusaka vibrated along the beautiful liturgy by expressing its joy, especially when the names of all those ‘handsome’ young men, according to one of the speakers, were announced.
It happened on the day before my final departure from Zambia. I took off again from Lilongwe on Wednesday to arrive in Montreal on June 1 at noon time. By then, I was very far away from Africa where I lived 25 out of my last 30 years of life.
I went home, meaning to my mothers’ place, after few days at St-Hubert Street where I will be stationed by August 1 as Director of the Afrika Centre. Though still on holiday, I wanted to come back to Montreal yesterday to be present this morning to the priestly ordination of a Cameroonian into the Archdiocese of Montreal. Reverent Claude Ngodji was ordained by Mgr. Christian Lépine in a church dedicated to Our Lady of Africa.
This Catholic Mission is celebrating its 4th year of existence. This community brings together Africans from all over French Speaking African countries who have settled all over Montreal Island. Four major trends make this community special: fraternal gathering, meaningful liturgy, education into faith and opening to a changing world.
I am grateful to witness such great moments into the life of the Church. Free, I went to Africa at the age of 26 in 1981, I feel also free to come back to my mother land today. My joy is to see that Africa is no longer a remote and unknown far distant land but very much present in Montreal with its vibrant faith and hope.
See also the translation into French:
Shalom,
Recevez mes salutations de Jérusalem. Je viens par ce présent mail vous faire part de mon ordination presbytérale qui aura lieu le 1er Juillet prochain au Burkina Faso. Bonne fête de Pentecôte!
Shalom,
Greetings from Jerusalem. I wish to share with you the news about my priestly ordination which will take place on July 1 in Burkina Faso. Happy Pentecost Feast!
Hervé TOUGMA, Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers), St Anne’s Church P.O. Box 19079, 19 Lions’ Gate Street (near Lions’ Gate), 91190 Jerusalem (Old City)
Let us pray for Michael Mapulanga, Harrison Banda and Simon Mphana, O.M.I. who will be ordained this coming Saturday, January 28 in South Africa. Micheal and Harrison are Zambian who have joint the diocesan clergy in the Archdiocese of Bloemfontein. They will be ordained by Right Reverend Archbishop Jabulani Adatus Nxumalo OMI.
By Konrad Simon Millanzi, M.Afr
My ordination was on 15th December 2016 at St. Walburg church, Nyangao Parish, by Bishop Bruno Pius Ngonyani of Lindi diocese, Tanzania. About 19 confreres and students came to support me with two MSOLA Sisters. Thanks for your presence. They were led by Bartholomew Mrosso, Provincial Delegate for Tanzania together with Hugh Seenan from Mozambique, Faustin Kerumbe and Deogratias Ngowi from South Africa and my brother Lawrence Tukamushaba from Zambia. His family in Uganda took care of me during my studies there.
I also got support from 25 diocesan priests. Among them were my five senior priests from Nyangao parish namely Fr. Achiula, Fr. Chijinga, Fr. Hokororo, Fr. Mpiri and Fr. Nkane, O.S.B. We are now six priests from Nyangao Parish. Other priests came from Ndanda Abbey and many more from various local congregation of Sisters.
A Thanksgiving Mass was celebrated at the church of St. Walburg on 18th December followed by a large gathering.
I would like to give thanks to God and all the people who have helped me in one way or the other to respond YES to God’s call.
Missionaries of Africa - SAP Province 