Priestly ordination is a work of God, a gift for the life of the Church. For this reason, the Redemptorist Community of the Province of Rio gathered in the Basilica of São Geraldo, in Curvelo (MG), on April 17, to give thanks to God and implore his sacramental grace for the new priest Robson Araújo dos Santos, C.Ss.R., Darci José Nicioli CSsR, Metropolitan Archbishop of Diamantina, and the prayer of the Church, to consecrate himself to Christ to live like Jesus, who mercifully became the shepherd and priest of humanity. The Eucharistic Celebration was broadcast on Basilica’s social networks, and Radio Educadora do Coronel Fabriciano.
It was with faith and conviction that Father Robson chose to serve Christ as a Redemptorist missionary. “The song ‘Your voice made me think, I left everything to follow you; I want to sail on your seas, “says a lot about my vocation. I was challenged by the voice of God, who seduced me, and I let myself be seduced,” said the new presbyter, who thanked all the confreres who supported him and left their mark on his vocational journey.
According to Fr. Robson, the motto chosen for his priestly life was “I no longer call you servants, I call you friends” (Jn 15:15) because he understands that Jesus’ invitation is an invitation to closeness, belonging, trust and love. That is why he wants to live his ministry as a friend of Jesus, as St. Geraldo did. “To feel friends of Jesus means to have confidence in the path of the mission, to see to it that the heart of the Master is always in tune with ours and ours, with his,” said the Redemptorist.
On Sunday (18) morning, Fr. Robson presided at his first Mass, also in the Basilica of São Geraldo, with the concelebration of the Redemptorist Missionaries, including the Provincial Superior, Fr. At the end of the celebration, Fr. Mauro Carvalhais, C.Ss.R. addressed a few words of affection to the new priest, underlining his attentive and kind manner: “Father Robson, may God make you happy! Proceed in this way. It is not enough to begin; you must persevere to the end! You were born to be a Redemptorist missionary”.
(provinciadorio.org.br)
