July 28, 2015 Butembo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

On Sunday, July 27, 2015, in the diocese of Butembo-Beni (DRC), Most Rev. Melchisedech SIKULI PALUKU ordained 14 priests and 16 deacons during a Solemn Mass, accompanied by Most Rev. Janvier KATAKA, bishop of the diocese of WAMBA, and more than a hundred priests in Immaculate Mary Parish, run by the Assumptionists in the Kitatumba neighborhood of this ever-growing city.

Apart from five diocesan deacons, all the others ordained belong to religious congregations, all of them natives of the diocese. Among those ordained were 7 Assumptionist priests and 9 Assumptionist deacons; 3 Crozier priests and 2 deacons; one Carmelite priest, one Combonian priest, and one priest from the Apostles of Jesus, the only Congregation represented at the ceremony not yet implanted in the diocese of Butembo-Beni.

During this year dedicated to the Consecrated Life, Bishop Sikuli bore personal witness to the flourishing of this life in his diocese. In fact, the diocese has been the cradle of hundreds of religious vocations, male and female, many of whom have become missionaries throughout the world.

In spite of the reigning climate of heightened insecurity, more than 5000 faithful from all over the diocese,  including many family members, attended the celebration which featured uplifting music, powerful signs, and wholehearted participation. This day will be remembered for a long time to come for never before in its were 30 young men ordained on the same day in the diocese of Butembo-Beni.