‘Tu es prêtre a jamais.’ Reads a banner inside the church building of Mater Dei Parish in Kisantu diocese that welcomed a magnitude of parents, friends, brothers and sisters to a unique celebration on the 19th June, 2010. Literal translation; ‘you are a priest forever.’ The parish, managed by the Consolata Missionaries, is a long the Kinshasa-Matadi highway, around 20km south of the capital, Kinshasa.
The day also marked the special celebration of the Feast of Our Lady Consolata.
By nine o’clock, the faithful started trickling in one by one and some in groups well set for the celebration. One could see even from their happy anxious faces that something good was really expected that chilly day. They braved the cold weather and later even missed the two world cup soccer tournaments of the day! In fact, for the drivers, the visibility was almost negative due to heavy fog and many trucks were packed by the roadside waiting for the atmosphere to clear up. It was ‘raining cold’, period.
Elegance was the order of the day and by ten minutes to ten all was set for the ceremony which was presided over by His Excellency Archbishop Giovanni D’Aniello, the Apostolic Nuncio of Democratic Republic of Congo. The candidates were present; Deacon Artur Mooke Ngaba, imc, a Congolese who did his theology in Kenya, Tangaza college for priestly ordination and seminarians Geoffrey Kiria, imc (Kenyan) and Bruno Bapabonza, imc (Congolese) who both did their theology here in Congo for diaconate ordinations. Others who graced the occasion were Amb. Pio Mariani, the ambassador of Italy to DR Congo, Fr. James Lengarin, imc, who represented the Kenya-Uganda region, religious members and some of their superiors, diocesan priests etc.
In his homily, that was highly dedicated to the candidates for ordinations, his grace pointed out the significance of the priestly and diaconate ordinations. He reminded them of the sacrifices that are within the sacerdotal life and called them once again into prayer life citing blessed Joseph Allamano, founder of the Consolata Missionaries, ardent prayer life.
To me this was a unique ordination. Totally different from others that I have attended. When I say different, I mean in the level of its organization, for ordination (Holy Orders), as a sacrament, transmit the same graces and powers no matter the circumstances surrounding it. Two reasons outline this uniqueness.
Firstly, it was the first that I attended here in Congo, outside my home country. Now imagine the expectations I had built all through its beginning until end. I was anxious to participate in it the Congolese style. I even imagined an ordination in the Zairian rite! To listen to the Zairian tunes and the litany that moves the soul!
Secondly, a priestly ordination inside the Church building! For me, unheard. A scandal! Blame my background. Am used to the ordinations in an open air space. Full-blown in the public eye. A place like Tumsifu Centre in Kisumu, for those who know it, is the place to be for an ordination. At some point, I thought that the church walls would collapse due to the magnitude of persons present for the celebration. Indeed it was full to the brim!
At the end of the day, deacon Artur became Fr. Artur and the two seminarians became Deacons Kiria and Bruno, an additional in the sacred orders before the end of the year for priests. Fr. Artur is destined for studies and missionary work back in Kenya while the two deacons are here with us in Congo.
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