Pretoria Deacons Recommitment Mass at St Anthony Of Padua In Soshanguve

by Daluxolo Moloantoa · Published August 13, 2024 · Updated August 13, 2024

The Soshanguve South Pastoral District hosted a deacon`s recommitment Holy Mass at St Anthony of Padua Church in Soshanguve. The celebration took place on the Feast of St Lawrence on August 10.

St Lawrence or Laurence was one of the seven deacons of the city of Rome under Pope Sixtus II who were martyred in the persecution of the Christians that the Roman Emperor Valerian ordered in 258 AD.

The Mass was celebrated by the archbishop of Pretoria Archbishop Anthony Dabula Mpako along with two priests and sixteen deacons. The deacons came from various churches in the archdiocese.

In his homily, Archbishop Mpako highlighted the fact that the diaconate ministry is one that was crucial to the Church’s mission and one that was comparable to a challenging climb up a mountain. “As Christians, we are on a journey en route to God`s mountain. It is the shortest of all journeys, but the longest too. The mountain is not physical, but it is a state of being, to be fully identical to God`s intentions for us.

To be fully in sync with His identity and what He calls us out to be.

The ministry of the diaconate is very important in this journey. Hence we make the call for more amongst us to become part of this ministry, and we also celebrate it today with our brothers and their families present here.

After the archbishop’s homily, the sixteen deacons present made a recommitment to the vows of the diaconate, led by the archbishop. At the end of the Mass Deacon Moeng Gregory Mogale introduced all the deacons and from which parish they came from. He was followed by Deacon Callum Scott, the chairperson of the diaconate ministry in the Archdiocese of Pretoria.

“We thank the archbishop for always ensuring that he gives an ear to the recommendations and the concerns of our deacons in the Archdiocese of Pretoria. We also thank the families from which our deacons derive the power and the strength to pursue their mission. We thank also the parish of St Anthony of Padua for providing the platform for today`s occasion in this lovely and beautiful church,” he said.

A representative of the parish gave a vote of thanks to the archbishop and to everyone present too. Finally, Archbishop Mpako closed the occasion by expressing his gratitude to the community of the St Anthony of Padua church, the deacons chaplain and the women who had prepared a sumptuous lunch, which was enjoyed after the service by the deacons and special guests.