Five young men from the Redemptoris Mater Seminary admitted as candidates for the priesthood
By: LPJ Media Office
Published: 27/05/2023
Despite the painful affliction that has befallen the families of two of the candidates, Pedro (from spain) and Elija (from Germany), who have lost a father and a sister respectively - Mr. José Luis Mendoza, founder of the Catholic University of Murcia (Spain), and Naomi - they nonetheless asked to be admitted as candidates for the priesthood on Wednesday, May 24th, 2023, along with three others: Antonio, from the parish of Saint-Antoine de Jaffa, Adolfo from Guatemala and Alan from India (born in Kuwait).
The celebration was presided over by Mgr Giampietro Dal Toso, Apostolic Nuncio to Jordan and Cyprus, at the Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Galilee, with the participation of priests, seminarians and faithful from various parishes, especially from the Latin parish of Rafidia (Nablus). In his homily, the Nuncio addressed the applicants for admission and their families, saying: "This is one more step, though not a definitive one, toward that full surrender of your-selves to God that you will make during your ordination. We rejoice with you! So many accompany you at this time, because this step does not only concern you, but the whole Church, the community of faith, aware of the need for priests. Every vocation is also an ecclesial fact."
"The Word of God enlightens us today on the fact that this whole dynamic of gift has its origin in Christ. He consecrated Himself to the Father (...) Therefore, the beautiful Word of today's Gospel accompanies in a very precise way the gesture of these brothers. Today they too offer themselves, and they do so with a simple but very meaningful word: "Here I am! I am here, Lord, to do your will." It is the same word with which Our Lady said her yes to God and His will, which wants the salvation of all. In your 'Here I am,' dear brothers, there is not only your personal yes to God, but the possibility of realizing the salvation that God wants to accomplish for humanity, and that necessarily passes through the gift of self," the Nuncio continued.
He also stressed that the "yes" the young candidates must say has to be said completely freely, because it will lead them to work according to God’s will, free from all kinds of idols and sins, ready to love and give unconditionally.
Jovel Álvarez Solis
