Archbishop Dominic Lumon of Imphal ordained six deacons as Catholic priests at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Imphal in the Northeastern Indian state of Manipur on December 19.
Speaking on occasion, Archbishop Lumon said that priesthood is a call, not a career.
“In a call, you do what you are called for. In a career, you do what you choose to do. You are called not because of your property, or you are qualified. You are called unworthy as you are and qualified,” the prelate said.
The newly ordained priests are Father Samuel N. Naulak (Imphal Archdiocese), Father Joseph Haomuonlian (Imphal Archdiocese), Father Dilbung Milan (Miao Diocese), Father VR. Yursem David (SDB), Father Chithung Horam Joel (MSFS) and Father Athikho Isaac (MSFS).
Archbishop Lumon told the newly ordained priests that “You are called for a mission, for a service. Through the rite of ordination, you are configured to Christ, in the person of Christ the head. You have to conform to him or model yourself to him, on Jesus Christ who came to serve and gave himself for the ransom of many. You are to take up your cross daily and follow the master without looking back.”
The prelate advises the newly minted priests to be “never lacking in zeal but keep your spiritual fervor. That means be set on fire by the Holy Spirit, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
In a symbolic gesture, the parents of the deacons unvested the candidates of the traditional dress of their specific culture before the beginning of the priestly ordination rite. The short symbolic gesture signified that the priesthood candidates are from a particular culture and are now embarking on embracing the culture of Christ’s call to service through the priesthood.
Archbishop Lumon stressed the need to at the service of the Word of God and sacraments. The prelate encouraged the new priests to be constantly in communion with the Lord in a life of prayer and be a witness to a spirit of sacrifice to sanctify themselves and the world.
Archbishop Lumon thanks the new priest for their generosity in coming forward to offer their lives to God and for the service of his people in the church
“Priesthood is a noble vocation. It has plenty of joys as much as it has as plenty of struggles. You will have plenty of people praising you and many people not praising you but criticizing you sometimes,” said Father Francis, the rector of the seminary welcoming the newly ordained priests to the fraternity of Imphal Archdiocese.
While congratulating the newly ordained priests, the president of Manipur Catholic Youth Organization (MCYO) said: “Dear fathers, the privilege of holding the priesthood, which is the power and the authority to act in God’s name is the greatest blessing and the privilege. It is a commission to serve, a privilege to live and an opportunity to bless the lives of many others.”
Father Stanislaus, the vice-rector and professor of Oriens Theological College, Shillong, expressed joy that counting the six new priests, now the archdiocese of Imphal has 149 native priests, both religious and diocesan.
The ordination ceremony was attended by around 90 priests, many religious nuns and faithful.
Father Samuel N. Naulak of Imphal Archdiocese expressed gratitude on behalf of the newly ordained priests.
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