Kohima, January 15 (MExN): Diocese of Kohima got its first priest from the archdiocese of Imphal with the priestly ordination of Rev. Fr. Salas Ngade by Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima at Holy Rosary Parish Church, Purul Atongba village, Manipur on January 13.
Dressed in traditional attire, Fr. Salas was led from his house to the altar by his parents, relatives, and village elders. Fr. Carolus Neisalhou, the Vicar General, presented the candidate for ordination, which was followed by the homily of the Bishop.
The Bishop in his homily, referring to the book of Numbers, said that the primary duty of every priest is to lift up Jesus crucified through the exercise of the triple office of Christ: priest, prophet and leader, so that Christ may draw all people to him and give them eternal life. “Though by baptism every Christian shares in the triple functions of Christ by the common priesthood, a priest by ordination shares in ministerial priesthood of Christ...He is commissioned also, and given power and authority, to declare and pronounce to Christ's people, being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins. He is empowered and authorized to dispense the sacraments of the Church. In so doing he exercises his priestly functions and thereby lifts up Christ that He may draw men unto Him,” the Bishop said, according to a press release from his Secretary, Fr. Thomas Toretkiu.
He further said that the priest shares in the prophetic function of Christ when he preaches the word of God, which means to preach Jesus Christ. The function of the priest as a prophet, the Bishop said, is to give people the teaching of Christ as revealed and taught by the Church, and thus to lift up Christ before men. “The priest also shares in the pastoral or leadership function of Christ by serving like Christ who came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many,” he added. The Bishop also thanked the parents and relatives of Fr. Salas for offering him to the service of God in the Church.
After the homily, the ordination ceremony began with questioning the candidate, invocation for the power of the Holy Spirit by praying the litany of the saints, laying on of hands, prayer of consecration, investiture in the priestly attire, anointing on of hands, presentation of the gifts of bread and wine for the Eucharistic celebration and the kiss of peace. Deacon Salas Ngade, son of Th. Low James and S. Hiishoru Philomena, was born on December 15, 1988 at Purul Atongba village. He is the sixth child among ten children. He joined the Minor Seminary for the Diocese of Kohima at Jalukie after his matriculation in 2005, then went to Chabua (Assam) for the Orientation Course in 2007, did the philosophy and graduation at Salesian College Dimapur, regency at St. Francis, Shamator and St. John, Khonoma, and theology at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore.
Earlier, Fr. Simon Thaikho, the Parish Priest, gave a warm welcome to the participants. He also gave a brief profile of Holy Rosary Parish, Purul, established in 1988 with Fr. Kurian Ovelil MSFS as its first parish priest. There are 13 villages in Purul Block, out of which, 9 villages have Catholic community with a total number of 3917 Catholics. Fr. Salas will be the 10th priest from the parish and it already has 51 nuns. Presently, there are 24 priests and 101 nuns from the Poumai community, Fr. Simon informed. He also acknowledged the contribution by Salesian Fathers, MSFS Fathers, FCC Sisters and Holy Cross Sisters, many catechists and leaders in making the parish a vibrant and a dynamic temple of God, the release said.
Fr. Salas Ngade, the newly ordained priest, expressed words of gratitude to all who were instrumental in leading him to the altar of the Lord.
