Thursday, August 1, 2024, is undoubtedly a significant day for us Redemptorists, in celebrating congregational festivities. Messages and greetings of ‘Happy feast day’ will certainly be exchanged among us. Indeed, today is the Feast of Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, the Founder of the Redemptorist Congregation, and a Doctor of the Church.
For Indonesian Redemptorists, the celebration of Saint Alphonsus is even more festive with the ordination of four of our confreres at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Weetebula. These deacons are Sebastian Sinyo Aliandu CSsR, Don Lorenso Jaga Kelen CSsR, Yohanes Paulus Tukan CSsR, and Bernardus Ignasius Dalo Liman CSsR. They come from the islands of Flores and Lembata.
They were ordained by Mgr. Edmund Woga CSsR. In his homily, Bishop Edmund urged the new priests to love their vocations as priests who genuinely serve the people entrusted to them.
“Maintain the quality of your life by persevering in prayer and serving the people. Learn from our founder, Saint Alphonsus, who always relied on God,” said the bishop.
Subsequently, these new priests received their respective assignments. Fr. Paul is sent back to the place where he served as a deacon, the Redeemer Parish in Wara-Waingapu; Fr. Sinyo will serve at St. Mary Assumpta Parish in Homba Karipit; Fr. Don Lorenso will serve at St. Clement Hofbauer Parish in Katiku Loku; while Fr. Nardi is assigned to PusPas in Katiku Loku.
As usual, after the Eucharistic celebration, the feast of Saint Alphonsus and the ordination were celebrated with a gaudeamus.
Copiosa Apud Eum Redemptio
Fr. Willy Ng Pala CSsR
