The ordination took place yesterday at St Patrick's Cathedral, presided over by the Apostolic Nuncio in Pakistan, Archbishop Christophe Zakhia El-Kassis. In his homily, he said to the candidates to be “salt and light to the world”.
Karachi (AsiaNews) – Yesterday the Archdiocese of Karachi welcomed four new deacons, "who will have the responsibility and duty of serving the Church of Christ in a very special way", said Archbishop Christophe Zakhia El-Kassis, Apostolic Nuncio to Pakistan, who presided over their ordination in St Patrick's Cathedral.
During the ceremony, which was attended by hundreds of faithful and religious, Fr Arthur Charles, of the Archdiocese of Karachi, presented the four candidates to Archbishop El-Kassis, to whom the ordination was delegated by Archbishop Benny Mario Travas.
Those responsible for their training testified that they deserve to be ordained to the transitional diaconate to serve the Church. The future priests are Akash Akram, Aqeel Akhtar, Waqas Brian, and Sunil Sarfraz.
Speaking to AsiaNews, Deacon Sunil said he was "grateful to God for his mercy" and for calling him "to serve his people”, adding that Archbishop Benny Mario Travas’s concern for seminarians "will bring fruit in the vineyard of the Church in Karachi.”
Jesus gave deacons the task of being “salt and light to the world,” said Archbishop El-Kassis during his homily, for “no food has taste without salt and without light we cannot see and move around.”
The prelate invited candidates to prepare to help priests in their ministry. "Diakonia is a Greek term that means to serve,” whereby “you offer life not only with your hands, but also with your heart and mind.”
“Keep the flame (Jesus) inside you,” the archbishop added, for the “Lord is there and let this light go through.” Truly, “Jesus is asking you to do his works in history, not your works” and so “preach the word of God and his message.”