Arua Diocese recieve 12 Newly Ordained Energetic Young Priests and 3 Deacons.
On Saturday, July 27, the Diocese of Arua celebrated a glorious ordination of 12 deacons and 3 seminarians at Ediofe Catholic Cathedral. Arua Diocese now welcomes 15 new clergy members equiped to serve both the local and universal Church with dedication and zeal.
Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki of Arua Diocese officiated the ordination ceremony. In his address, Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki called upon the newly ordained clergy to become missionaries of Synodality and promote Synodality within the parishes, chapels, and small Christian communities that they will be assigned.
The ceremony was attended by numerous dignitaries, including Vicar General Monsignor Casto Adeti of Arua Diocese, Monsignor Deus Lamas from the Netherlands, local priests, religious brothers and sisters, and representatives from various Catholic associations. Notable guests included the Minister for Urban Development, Hon. Mario Obiga, members of Parliament from different constituencies in the Arua Diocese, as well as central and local government leaders. Religious leaders from other denominations and cultural leaders were also present.
Bishop Sabino expressed gratitude for the 12 new priests, noting the significance of this number, which mirrors the apostles. He remarked, "Today the Lord is blessing us with 12 new priests. This is a special number, reflecting the 12 apostles. It is rare to receive 12 priests at once, making it a significant gift from God."
The bishop commended the perseverance of the newly ordained priests, acknowledging the challenging path to priesthood. He also expressed appreciation for the three new deacons, whose journey offers hope for ordinations in the coming year of 2025 January.
He urged the priests to serve both the local and universal Church faithfully and thanked the families who supported the new priests. He highlighted the need for more priests to serve as missionaries from the Diocese of Arua.
He also extended gratitude to the formation houses and those who contributed to the education and support of the seminarians, including foster parents, sponsors, and diocesan supporters from the Netherlands. Special thanks were given to the Missionaries of Jesus the Divine Master and the Apostles of Jesus for their roles in preparing the candidates.
The bishop encouraged the new priests to embrace their roles as missionaries of Synodality, in alignment with the Synod of Synodality emphasized by Pope Francis. He outlined four key traits for successful priesthood: closeness to God, closeness to the bishop, proficiency in proclaiming the Word of God, and maintaining strong moral conduct.
Reflecting on the day's readings, Bishop Sabino Ocan Odoki noted that the Spirit of the Lord, which empowered Moses and the 7 elders, is now bestowed upon the new priests to aid them in their ministry. He stressed the importance of unity within the diocese and cautioned visiting priests to obtain and present letters of introduction from their bishops in order to be free to celebratethe Sacraments where ever there is need. He encouraged priests to remain close to their fellow clergy and to the people they serve, emphasizing that their role is to support and guide the community.
The Diocese of Arua now counts nearly 200 priests, yet with its extensive reach, there remains a need for more clergy. The bishop concluded by urging prayers for more vocations to support the growing needs of the diocese.
