Dominique Mukonda, CICM
HONG KONG (SE): Kwai Chung, St. Stephen’s Church, 2 October 2022. A place, a parish, a date. These details will forever be engraved in the mind and heart of, Jean-Pierre Siasi-Khonde, a member of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary [CICM] for the rest of his missionary life as they will serve as remembrance of his ordination to the diaconate, which is an important and meaningful step towards the ordination to the priesthood.
The new deacon hails from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in Africa. He felt the call to the priesthood at an early age, and as the practice goes, he nurtured it with the help of his friends and relatives, without failing to mention his spiritual advisor. The impact one CICM Missionary made on his life was enough to trigger his desire for missionary life. After joining the CICM Congregation, he was sent to the capital city of Kinshasa to continue his formation, a process that would later lead him to Cameroon, the Philippines, and finally Hong Kong, his mission territory.
In his homily, Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-Yan, SJ, recalled the importance of the diaconate in the life of the Church. He invited the new deacon to rely on the grace that comes from the Holy Spirit, for it is from the Spirit of God that the deacon will draw strength and wisdom.
The deacon will proclaim the Word of God, serve at the altar, cooperate with the bishop and the priests and be a servant of the people of God in areas that require his competence. His mission is to pray, to confirm the faithful in faith, to care for the sick and the poor, and following the bishop’s guidelines, to proclaim the Good News to those who do not know Jesus.
CICM Missionaries of different races and cultures live and work together as brothers in order to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ wherever it is most needed
This aspect naturally connects the deacon to the CICM Mission Statement where it is written that the “CICM Missionaries of different races and cultures live and work together as brothers in order to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ wherever it is most needed.”
Bishop Chow also reminded the assembly about the mission we all have received in the Church to take care of each other as members of the same family of God. As a matter of fact, the deacon will not be working alone. He does so with and for the people of God in Jesus’ name.
Therefore, we all need to bear each other with love, compassion and care, so that the joy of the gospel may become a living reality among us.
In his speech, the Deacon Siasi-Khonde thanked God for his vocation, as well as the people who helped him to answer the call to missionary life in CICM and, most importantly, to remain faithful: his parents and relatives, his friends and CICM brothers and collaborators, the people of God and the parishioners of St. Stephen’s Parish, as well as all those who attended his ordination. “Pray for me,” he said.
The local superior, Father Dominique Mukonda, also invited the people to join together in faith, One heart and One Soul [the CICM motto], in order to experience the love of God every day. He also thanked the bishop for his presence.
Bishop Chow also reminded the assembly about the mission we all have received in the Church to take care of each other as members of the same family of God
Due to the pandemic travel restrictions, both CICM and the parish weren’t sure that he could be present, even though a plan “b” was already considered.
But God’s grace is always at work! Father Mukonda thanked also the diocese for its unfailing support of missionary life. He also mentioned the priests and the faithful for showing their support for the new deacon and invited them all to be good role models, for their faith and experience would be of great help in the missionary life of the newly ordained deacon.
How to finish without mentioning the Diocesan Liturgy Commission and the people of St. Stephen’s Parish? We could feel that everything was done to turn that day into a memorable one.
The bishop appointed Deacon Siasi-Khonde to serve at St. Stephen’s. let us thank the Lord for his marvels.
In one of the moving moments of the celebration, the bishop invited the faithful to give a round of applause to the deacon’s family in the Congo, thanking them for their sacrifice and generosity. Honestly speaking, it was a wonderful day.
CICM thanks you.
