Ondjiva:  Seven deacons were ordained priests in the Catholic Diocese of Ondjiva on August 31, with Bishop Pio Hipunyati urging them to remain close to the people and live out their ministry in daily communion with their communities.

The ordination ceremony took place at Our Lady of Grace Cathedral in Ondjiva, where Bishop Hipunyati delivered a strong message on the pastoral responsibilities of priests. He stressed that their mission should not be confined to the church sanctuary but must extend into everyday spaces where people live, work, and struggle.

“Be present in the communities, walk with the people, live among them, listen to their pains, and celebrate their hopes with joy,” the Bishop said, warning that priests who distance themselves from their parishioners risk becoming strangers to the flock they are called to serve.

He encouraged the new priests to immerse themselves in all areas of community life, including schools, hospitals, and public spaces, where their presence could serve as a source of encouragement and hope. At the same time, he reminded them that their effectiveness would be rooted in a strong spiritual foundation. “Nothing should come before your dedication to God and His people,” Bishop Hipunyati stated, highlighting the importance of prayer, sacramental ministry, and pastoral accompaniment.

Quoting scripture, the Bishop described the priestly vocation as carrying “a treasure in jars of clay,” a symbol of both the fragility and the profound responsibility of their mission. He called on the ordinands to remain humble and to recognize that their ministry is ultimately a service to God and to His people.

The ordination comes at a time when the Catholic Church in Angola is emphasizing pastoral presence and reconciliation. Recent pastoral messages from other dioceses have underscored the importance of forgiveness, dialogue, and building communities of peace, alongside calls for religious men and women to share in the daily experiences of the faithful.

With the ordination of these seven priests, the Diocese of Ondjiva strengthens its pastoral mission, aiming to respond to the growing needs of the faithful through priests who are rooted in prayer, engaged in community life, and committed to walking alongside the people they serve.