Dimapur, December 29 (MExN): With his priestly motto as, “Thy Will be Done,” the first diocesan Priest and the third Priest from the Zeliang Community Rev. Fr. Kwetrangging Dominic was ordained on December 29. He conferred the priesthood by Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima at an ordination ceremony held at St. Xavier College Auditorium Hall, Jalukie Town.
For the ordination, he was led by the village community dressed in the traditional attire along with his mother and uncle while Rev. Fr. Anthonysamy, the Parish Priest welcomed the gathering, informed a press note from Fr. Thomas Toretkiu, the Bishop Secretary
Rev. Dr. Thoppil in his homily said that the role of every Catholic priest is to lift up Jesus before all peoples so that Jesus can draw all people to himself and give them eternal life. The Church requires, in accordance with the will of Christ as expressed in the practice of the Apostolic Church, that a Priest be ordained at the hands of a Bishop. But it is not the Bishop who makes the Priest; it is Almighty God, working through His Holy Spirit, in His Holy Catholic Church, which is the Body of Jesus Christ, it added.
The bishop also referred to Pope Francis’ homily given on the occasion of the Chrism Mass in 2014, which stated that, “The priest is the poorest of men unless Jesus enriches him by his poverty; the most useless of servants unless Jesus calls him his friend; the most ignorant of men unless Jesus patiently teaches him as he did Peter; the frailest of Christians unless the Good Shepherd strengthens him in the midst of the flock.”
The priest in short is God's priest, a humble servant whose body and soul must belong to God and a true priest lives no longer for himself but solely to the end that he may hold up the Crucified before men, the Bishop further reflected.
According to the press note, Rev. Fr. Dominic was born on January 9, 1989 and completing his elementary examination, he began his studies in pursuit of priesthood in the year 2003 at St. Xavier Seminary Jalukie (High School). Later, he did his Orientation Course at Vianney Home, Chabua, Assam (2007); Philosophy and graduation at Salesian College of Higher Education, Dimapur; Regency at St. John the Evangelist Church, Khonoma and St. Mary’s Church, Seyochung; Theology at Oriens Theological College, Shillong (2013-2016), and Diaconate at St. Xavier Jalukie.
The deacon was presented by the parents for ordination after praying over him and removing the traditional dress, symbolizing that he is being set apart for God’s work, it said.
The rites include the examination of the candidate; invocation of the Holy Spirit through the intercession of May; the mother of Jesus and all the saints in the Church; laying on of hands by the bishop and all the concelebrating priests; prayer of consecration, investiture, anointing with holy chrism; presentation of gift and the kiss of peace.
Rev. Fr. Dominic, the newly ordained priest acknowledged with great humility the loving Mercy of God in his life, especially during the years of his formation till the moment of his priestly ordination, it said.
He fondly remembered his mom and his late father, and his brothers who lit the spark of the ideas of becoming a priest through loving family upbringing, it added.
He also thanked Bishop James, Frs. Jose Edasseril, Anthonysamy and many other priests, nuns and people who stood with him to this day.
While Rev. Fr. John Vipral, Assistant Priest, Jalukie and R. Agnes anchored the program, other highlight of the programme include song by St. Xavier’s Church Elders; Cultural dance from “B” Jalukie, Jalukie Town, Songlhuh, CYA, Peren and Poilwa and by Samziuram. The whole ceremony ended with community meal.
.jpeg)
