Douala, Cameroun: On 15 December 2022 during a Solemn Pontifical Mass, His Grace Samuel Kleda, the Metropolitan Archbishop, ordained seven Claretian deacons and five priests in Saint John Mary Vianney Parish, Beedi-Malangue, Archdiocese of Douala.

During his homily, the Archbishop encouraged the brothers to express deep love for Jesus in their service to the Church. He insistently repeated these words to them: “You cannot be a good priest or deacon if you do not love Jesus.” He encouraged the families and friends to help the candidates to love Jesus through their prayers.

Major Superior, Father Jude Thaddeus Langeh, cmf, during his address, thanked the Bishop for the smooth relationship between Claretians and the Archdiocese of Douala and for accepting to ordain the Claretian brothers. He encouraged the brothers to love their vocation and take it as a service to the Church and to strive to follow in the footsteps of our founder Saint Anthony Claret. He also acknowledged the families for the gift of these brothers to the Congregation.

After the Eucharistic celebration, the Claretian Missionaries, the Christian community and the different families of the newly-ordained priests and deacons continued the festivities with singing, dancing and sharing of agape meal.

The newly ordained thanked the Parish Priest, Father Frederic Kpoumie, cmf, his pastoral team and all the parishioners of Saint John Marie Vianney Parish for making all the arrangements.

Congratulations to the newly ordained deacons and priests. We pray that they may continue to love Jesus because the Word of God says “you cannot be a good priest or deacon if you do not love Jesus.”