In his homily during the February 15 Ordination of Deacons Cremildo Xavier Prego, Egídio Ibraimo Assane, and Declerque Nazaré José, Bishop Afonso urged them to embrace the identity of the Priest as a man, servant of God, and close to the people.
“Even though a Priest is human, he must prioritize the things of God above any worldly occupation, showing integrity and faithfulness to his mission,” the Mozambican Catholic Bishop said during the Eucharistic celebration that was held at the Diocesan Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Malinguine.
He added, “Woe to you if you turn to worldly interests. The vocation demands total dedication because the Priest offers the sacred; he gives himself to God and to others.”
“It is not about opening offices, selling products, or running businesses. The Priest is a mediator between God and men, consecrated to the service of the Gospel, and must witness to the sacredness of his vocation,” the Local Ordinary of Quelimane said.
Bishop Afonso said the Priest is “a man of the sacred, called to consecrate himself to the service of the Gospel and the well-being of the people.”
He emphasized that humanity, dedication, and compassion form the core of the priestly identity.
“Being human does not mean excusing sins or failures. It means being a man of justice, prudence, wisdom, and love. A Priest is a man placed at the service of others, chosen among them, and sent for the good of humanity,” the Catholic Church leader said.
Bishop Afonso continued, “The first definition is that you are a man, not an angel. Many think a Priest is an angel, but no, Priests are human. They get hungry, like us. They are not angels. And Christ Himself was not an angel. Therefore, you are men and must be men of integrity.”
He urged the Priests-elect to “embrace humanity and live as a generous, kind, prudent, and wise human being. You are a man placed at the service of the people, aware of your fragility and great responsibility.”
“It is not enough to open an office or work fixed hours. A Priest must be among the people, accompany their struggles, walk with them, even to the point of physical exhaustion if necessary, and be another Christ for those who suffer. Compassion is the foundation of ministry and the priest’s sacred duty,” he said.
The Mozambican member of the Institute of Consolata Missionaries (IMC) further said, “The humanity of the Priest is essential to understanding the grace of the ministry, but it should not be used to justify human weaknesses.”
“The priesthood is participation in Christ’s ministry. A Priest is chosen among men for the things of God and for the good of humanity. He must suffer with those who suffer and rejoice with those who rejoice,” the Catholic Bishop said.
He emphasized that “the first characteristic of a Priest is to be human, but always dedicated to the service of God and others.”
Bishop Afonso added, “The humanity of the priest must go hand in hand with spiritual dedication.”
He said, “Every Priest is chosen to serve humanity and must suffer with them, rejoice with them, be merciful, and stay close to those who suffer.”