Thank you for your very kind response to the Josephite Missions Appeal last weekend. If you have not returned any donation in the envelope provided, you still can do so at any time. If you don’t have one, they are available from the Rectory. All the money will be helping the Vocations of young Josephites and the education of thousands of children in the schools the Josephites run in Africa.
This weekend in Douvangar, Cameroon, Bishop Bruno of Maroua-Mokolo will ordain to the deaconate three of our young Josephites: Frere Jean-Pierre, Frere Christian and Frere Barthelemy. I’m sure this will be a wonderful celebration in the beautiful Church dedicated to Our Lady. I was there earlier this year as Vicar General visiting the mission (it was not the one where I was held up at gun point).
These men will become transitional deacons, meaning in progress to priesthood, as opposed to permanent deacons such as our eight deacons here at SLdM. The deaconate is as ancient as the priesthood. If you remember, in the Acts of the Apostles, the twelve appointed seven men to help “run the show”, as it were, with special care for the poor and needy. These men included St Stephen and St Philip both of whom we see preaching in the Acts. It is these two strands of apostolate to which deacons are called, service of the community and service of the Word. I thank our deacons who do much more than just help at Masses and preach on the second Sunday of the month. Please offer up a prayer of thanksgiving for all they do and a special prayer of perseverance and encouragement for our new African Josephite Deacons this weekend.
May God bless you, your families, and the week ahead,
Fr Aidan Peter