5 DEACONS ORDAINED AT ST. AUGUSTINE’S DONG
The ordination took place at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church Dong, Plateau State on January 29 2016.
The newly ordained deacons are Anthony Pwajok, Joseph Abazi, Joseph Pwol, Solomon Piwa and Zaka Dalung
Excerpts from the homily:
We are here to thank God for His blessings in our Archdiocese. We are here to thank God for His blessings in our families and society. We are here to thank God for his blessings in our lives. That is what the Eucharist is all about, thanksgiving to God.
The early Christians taught us this. They had a common life. They shared their belonging and needs. They taught us to pray personally, as a family and as a community of people from various ethnic groups.
Their lives was however not void of human problems, hence they selected a few, about seven people whom they called Deacons to assist them in the work of sharing, praying and preaching. This is what we are emulating today.
We have a lot to learn from the early Christians as a country and as a world. We need to learn to share things equitably. If this is done, then we will minimize violence. If we give everyone his or her share and use it properly and justly then we will have peace and understanding flowing like a river.
When you preach peace it makes no meaning unless we create a situation for it. We see people preaching peace yet instigating violence. No true religion preaches violence.
Our church tells us to be peaceful people then we can become sons and daughters of God.
As Deacons you are called to preach by your lives. Practice what you preach and preach what you believe, believe what you read from the Word of God.
Some people convert others to their religion using material things or by force or by intimidation, that is a mockery of religion. True conversion is based on conviction, and conviction comes from the goodness of our lives and it tells of the beauty of heaven.
God is giving you this honour of becoming Deacons hence concentrate on preaching especially by your lives and not your words alone.
