MESSAGE FROM THE ORDINARY OF LIRA DIOCESE TO THE NEWLY ORDAINED – BISHOP SANCTUS LINO

WELCOME INTO THE PILGRIMAGE AS PRIESTS AND SHEPHERDS.

I am thanking almighty God for revealing to you the salvation mystery of His very person.

Thanks for saying

YES to something God has hidden to the World, dear sons, and you yourselves don’t comprehend it clearly for it is a journey of faith. Since you heard him and he sent you to the Diocese, I play my role of ordaining youfor the ministry to serve and not to be served. Thank you for accepting and staying focus as young shepherds through attentive listening in prayer and service.

Today the parents are Detaching themselves and offering you to God through me and indeed the whole diocese of Lira. I and the faithful of Lira diocese warmly welcome you to the college of shepherds and priests to gather, to clean, to defend and restore the sheep all the time through, with and in Christ. The reason for relieving you today from all cultural and nuclear family responsibilities is to load you with the bigger responsibility of the people of God.

Today, I therefore, urge your parents and the whole flock of Lira diocese to let you free to carry this cross without any hindrance, for Christ must reign.

Listen to Christ through your Bishop who would send you to preach, sanctify and serve with humility of Christ by being present amidst the flock all the time. Your work will be to nourish the flock’s Faith, Morality and Mission in conformity with the church’s teaching. Consequently shepherding needs no destruction, but alertness and watchfulness. You have come to offer your life as sentries e and not as opportunists looking for means of acquiring material wealth for survival. Here pay Attention please! Otherwise you will be frustrated.

Win salvation with the cross of service and renew Christian Communities in him through the celebration of the Eucharist which is the way, the truth and life for humanity. Rest not, until you bring the flock to Christ through praise and worship, Eucharist, the true Identity of the faithful. “John 6:51 I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world”.

May the Lord who called you into the ministry accompany you with the true spirit of service to His people.

Blessings and prayer for you all.

Yours,
+Wanok Sanctus Lino
Bishop of Lira Diocese.