West Kalimantan, new priests and deacons ordained

Two new priests were ordained in the parish of the Holy Cross in Beduai. Msgr. Mencuccini: "To become priests means to consecrate all of your life to God and to the Church so that you may 'die' for the good of your flock". Local Catholics perform traditional dances and ceremonies before the consecration.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - "To become priests means to consecrate all of your life to God and to the Church so that you may 'die' for the good of your flock". With these words, Msgr. Mencuccini explained the meaning of consecrated life during the ordination of two new priests in the province of West Kalimantan. The ceremony was held on August 10th in the parish church of the Holy Cross in Beduai.

The bishop of Sanggau, Msgr. Giulio Mencuccini celebrated together with the archbishop emeritus of Pontianak, Msgr. Hieronymus Bumbun of the Order of Friars Minor.

The new priests are: Fr. Aga Saputra who will be parish priest in the parish church of Jesus the Crucifix in Nanga Taman, in the diocese of Sanggau; Fr. Joseph Wasito who was assigned to the parish of Sts. Peter and Paul in Sekadau.

The ordination began with local dances and ceremonies. The Catholics of Beduai have explained to AsiaNews what they consist of: "This traditional Dayak dance is a cultural heritage from our ancestors. It is performed by Dayak's 'primus inter pares'. They call him 'Pomang Figure' ". 

During the dance  slices of pork and chicken meat, sirih leaves, fruit made from betel nuts, chicken eggs, white rice and the local palm wine known as the Indonesian tuak are offered. 

Fr Augustinus Kraeng explains that the ritual dance is performed before the ceremony with the hope that God will give his blessing to all people and that the ordination goes well. "While the two deacons are about to enter the church's front door, the Pomang Figure performs the ritual with the chicken and, finally, both deacons must jump on the eggs," said the priest.

On August 4, the Archbishop of Pontianak, Msgr. Agostino Ago ordained three priests and four deacons in the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Pontianak. The three new priests are: Fr. Matius of the parish of St. Pius X Bengkayang; Fr. Marselinus M. Jano of the diocese of Ruteng in Flores, Fr. Marsianus Iwan Setiawan, of Calvari Lubang Buaya. While the deacon are: Paulinus Surip; Valerius Hilarion, Josemaria Caritas and Methoddius of Magelang.

(with the contribution of Sr. Maria Seba)

• Indonesia
• ordinations
• priestly
• priests
• West Kalimantan