Wednesday, 25 January 2023 11:14

Province of Our Lady of Africa - Ordination to the Priesthood in the Cathedral of St Anne of Thiès

Fr Louis Demba Ndione, Frs Christophe and Francisco Mendy, Fr Victor Youga Faye

 

“What shall I render to the Lord for all his bounty to me?
I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord” (Ps 116:12-13)

On Saturday, 3 December 2022, Christophe Mendy, Victor Youga Faye, Louis Demba Ndione and Francisco Mendy with three other young diocesan deacons were ordained priests by the imposition of the hands of Bishop André Gueye of Thiès. In preparation we had a time of renewal by a one-week retreat led by Father Pierre Raul Ciss, a priest of the diocese of Thiès.

The stage of initial formation has been a long journey amid difficulties, suffering, but also much joy. For this reason with the whole Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament we wish to thank God for the gift of life, religious vocation and particularly for the gift of priestly ministry. Today as well we want to live and share with the entire eymardian family the ideal set out by our Rule of Life, number 1: “to live the mystery of the Eucharist fully and to make known its meaning, so that Christ’s reign may come and the glory of God be revealed to the world.” For us truly it is a grace that has been given to us to be both members of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament as religious and minsters of the Eucharist as priests, at the service of God’s people.

We wish by these few words to thank God, the author of all creation. We thank our parents for always supporting, accompanying, and encouraging us through their advice, prayers and backing. Great thanks also to our Province of Our Lady of Africa for the renewed trust. Thanks likewise to the various Provinces that have welcomed us during the time of formation as scholastics, regarding which we mention especially the Province of Christ the Bread of Life in Sri Lanka, the Province of Blessed Isidore Bakania in the DRC, the Province of Saint John XXIII of Colombia, and the Province of Our Lady of Guadeloupe of Brazil.

Also we express much gratitude to all our formators and especially to the director of our P4 session, Father Denis Ndene and Father Camille Gagnon. Once again we commend ourselves to your prayers and we assure you likewise of our humble prayers. May God bless you who have contributed to our formation so that God may bestow still more fruitfulness to you ministry.

Like and with Mary we wish to repeat: “My soul glorifies the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour (…) The Almighty works marvels for me; Holy is his name!” (Lk 1:46f. 49) In prayerful communion with all the religious of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, we raise our prayers to the Lord of the harvest so that he may continue to send workers. Indeed, we ask the Father to raise up again numerous eucharistic vocations, particularly in our Province of Our Lady of Africa.

 

Father Francisco Mendy, sss

Last modified on Friday, 27 January 2023 09:45