SHILLONG: Five Salesians Albestar Kharkongor, Anthony Mallai, Donborlang Kurbah, Kennedy Kharkongor and Ritonbor Kharkongor together with six other young men-one Salesian for Guwahati Province, one Capuchin, two Claretians and two Diocesans- were ordained priests on Saturday on the premises of the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, Laitumkhrah by Bishop Victor Lyngdoh of Jowai Diocese.
The rite of the ordination took place during the Eucharistic celebration concelebrated by hundreds of priests and around twenty thousand faithful including the religious sisters and brothers.
Fr. John Madur, the diocesan administrator and Fr. Paul O Lyngkot SDB, the Provincial of the Salesians of Shillong, presented the candidates to the Bishop and requested him to ordain them.
After the rite of presentation and after listening to the word of God, the Bishop gave a short homily on the duty of the priests.
“Priests are apostles of Christ, they represents Christ to the faithful. Priests are agents of God’s blessings and healers for those who are either physically or spiritually ill. Priests are teachers and leaders of the faithful on how to live a virtuous life, becoming role model of holiness in words and deeds. Priests are prophets like the prophet Jonah who caused for the conversion of the people of Niniveh. They should bring the faithful back to God with their preaching. Priests should lead people to Christ and they should spend their lives on things that are eternal like Moses and other prophets. Priests should made themselves available to be with the Lord at all times through prayers and the celebration of the Eucharist” said the Bishop.
Following this, the rite of ordination took place, in which prayers were said and the Bishop blessed the candidates. The rite of ordination was followed by the rite liturgy of the Eucharist and the ceremony ended with the vote of thanks by the newly ordained priests.
