Jinja: Four members of the Congregation of Holy Cross (CSC) in East Africa were ordained priests on Sunday in Jinja, Uganda, during a ceremony marked by a strong call to humility, service, and closeness to the people. The ordination took place at Holy Cross Senior Secondary School in the Catholic Diocese of Jinja and was presided over by Bishop Patrick Michael Neary of the Diocese of Saint Cloud in the United States.
Bishop Neary, who previously served in Uganda as a missionary, urged the new priests to follow the example of Pope Leo XIV, whose life has become a model of pastoral simplicity and humility. He recalled the Pope’s years of service in Peru, where he lived among the poor, carried food to the hungry, transported the sick, and shared in the daily struggles of the people.
“My prayer is that you do the same,” Bishop Neary told the newly ordained priests. “Do not seek prestige or comfort but be close to the people, walk with them, and embrace their struggles as your own.”
The American prelate stressed that priestly ministry is not defined by intellectual ability or social skills alone, but by one’s ability to acknowledge weakness, endure interior struggles, and cultivate empathy. Citing the Letter to the Hebrews, he reminded them that priests are called to be gentle with those who falter because they too are subject to human frailty.
He further emphasized that a life of prayer and pastoral presence must be at the heart of priestly service. “Your priesthood will be fruitful if it is grounded in prayer, humility, and a willingness to be with the people in their joys and sorrows,” he said.
The ordination was particularly symbolic as it coincided with Pope Leo XIV’s 70th birthday on September 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, a day that underscores sacrifice and service in Christian life.
The Congregation of Holy Cross, which has a significant presence in East Africa, continues to play a vital role in pastoral and educational ministry in the region. The newly ordained priests are expected to take up assignments that will place them in direct service to local communities, following the example of their congregation’s charism and the message delivered by Bishop Neary.