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Wednesday, 02 November 2022 10:06

Perpetual Vows and Diaconal Ordinations: Province Our Lady of Africa, Senegal-Guinée Bissau

From left to right: Fr. Ferdinand Ndiolene, Fr. Paul Ndour, Br Louis Ndione, Fr. Yves Sagna, Fr. Bernard Tine, Br Victor Faye, Fr. Abraham Faye and Fr. Boniface Faye

 

The love of God and our vocation gather us, at the heart of the Church, into living communities, where all truly love one another – says our Rule of Life, n.5. In view of divine love, the wellspring of our vocation and gift of community life, it is with gratitude that we welcomed the propaedeutic period to the events that integrate us in a particular way into the Eymardian family and the clerical state. We are honoured to share the following fragments of these highlights, beginning with the P4 (Preparation Program for Perpetual Profession), then the perpetual vows and finally the diaconal ordination of brothers Victor Youga Faye and Louis Demba Ndione.

Experience of the P4

On 13 May 2022, the memorial date of the foundation of our Congregation, we began our P4 with Mass at 6:30 p.m. in the church of St Peter of Baobabs, Dakar. This programme was for us an intense time that enabled us to deepen and highlight the demands and value of our consecration to God. As every choice entails a renunciation, our choice to follow Christ required a renunciation of oneself to become committed to living of the evangelical counsels (obedience, chastity and poverty). Indeed, our state of life ennobles us to become friends of Jesus (Jn 15:15). A radical lifestyle (Presbyterorum Ordinis No. 3) befits our rank.

Celebration of perpetual vows

On Friday 29 July 2022 at 4 p.m. in the church of St Peter-Julian Eymard at Koudiadiene, we expressed our determination to “respond to the gift of God by the gift of ourself in following Christ’s call” by vowing to observe the evangelical counsels before the Father Provincial Yves Maxim Sagna and our confreres. In making thus vows to serve the Lord definitively in the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament according to the Rule of Life we become committed to seek a deeper understanding of the mystery of the Eucharist, to serve Christ and people, which is also highlighted. In his homily, Father Provincial touched on an indispensable aspect about living this Eucharistic mystery by commenting on Ph 2:1-11 and Jn 15:1-17 which requires humility. We must remain humble like Jesus in the Eucharist. This attitude will sustain our personal and communal friendship and intimacy with Christ.

Diaconal ordinations

On 30 July at 4 p.m. in the church of St Peter-Julian Eymard the celebration of the diaconal ordination took place, presided over by Mgr André Gueye, bishop of the diocese of Thies. In his homily, Bishop André explained to us apropos the diaconate: “the diaconate is not only the first degree of the priesthood; it is its base; a step that underlies the others since it will always entail, as Jesus told us in the Gospel (Mk 10:35-45), serving (serving God through the service of people and more particularly the most destitute). It is a foundational step and not one to step over.” The bishop’s exhortation reminds us that being a deacon is not a privilege of glory and honour, but requires the need to cultivate humility. Based on the first reading (1Tm 4: 6-12), we have the duty to protect our priesthood, to watch over our teaching and to be a model.

By way of conclusion, we again express our gratitude to Our Lord who bestows life, grace and empowerment. We are grateful to all who actively contributed to the success of these events, particularly our colleagues and our parents who communicated with us from near and far. The path is to be undertaken with the Eucharistic family and the ecclesial community, facing new challenges that arise, but we entrust ourselves more to God’s grace, which is enough for us (2 Cor 12:9). May His Most Holy Name be blessed!

18 September 2022

Brother Victor Youga Faye, sss

Last modified on Wednesday, 02 November 2022 10:48