Kupang, Indonesia. Coinciding with the Feast of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth and the celebration of Claretian Vocation Day, on Tuesday, May 31, 2022, Bishop Edmund Woga, C.Ss.R, ordained three Claretian students of Indonesia-Timor Leste Independent Delegation as deacons at the St. Michael’s Chapel, Penfui, Kupang. The three newly ordained deacons are Rev. Anggalius Yoseph Usfal, Rev. Edvan Andreas Ruu, and Rev. Patris Urbat, CMFF.

Msgr. Edmund invited them to explore their roles as deacons, that is, to be a servant of God and a servant of God’s people. He said that the inspiration to be a servant of God and a servant of God’s people could be inspired by the figure of John the Baptist and Jesus. John the Baptist became a servant of the Messiah, while the Messiah himself declared himself to be a servant of God.

The Bishop of the Diocese of Weetebula also invited them to make service an integral part of themselves, something that cannot be taken for granted.

Service must be at the center of the deacons’ lives.

For Bishop Edmund, service must be the essence in the daily life and movements, attitudes, and behavior of deacons in responding to God’s call to become special ministers in the Church.

Furthermore, the Bishop also reminded them always to remember the vital task of a deacon, namely, to pray. Praying is the spiritual duty of a deacon. It cannot be separated from a deacon. They are to pray always.

Together with the three Claretian students, the bishop also ordained eleven seminarians from the Archdiocese of Kupang, five from the Diocese of Weetebula, and one from the Diocese of Atambua.

News from Mario F. Cole Putra, CMF of Indonesia-Timor Leste