The retreat ended well, and the ordinands enjoyed the amount
of time that they have had to think and ponder over the pictures of the gospel
stories that I printed out for them. Some of them had never seen Jesus depicted
as an African before and they really appreciated that. The half hour interview
that I had with each of them, when they were able to talk about hurts and fears
as well as joys and sorrows, were very valuable. Some are facing huge problems.
One deacon-to-be, a single man, .is going to be living miles away from his
Rector, in an area where he knows nobody. We talked for a while about how he is
going to get support, in an area where internet access is difficult.
After supper on the last night we had a Penitential Service
– a form of Confession. I led them through a self examination – the sense of
sin here is poor. A senior priest told me a couple of weeks ago that he didn’t
think that teenage Confirmation candidates had any sins to confess! They seem
to think that sins must be big things – and were surprised that ‘small things’
are just as much sin as murder and theft! After they said the words of the
Confession together I went to each in turn and pronounced the absolution
signing them on the forehead with the cross. It was very moving, and a couple
ended up in tears. We then broke the
silence, and spent over an hour just chatting to each other. It was a brilliant
way to end the week.
.JPG) |
| Elias - Jouberton's Deacon - taking the Oaths on Friday, witnessed by the Dean. |
Friday morning it was off to the Cathedral in Potch for the
rehearsal and the Swearing of Oaths, a mere 4 hour exercise! Then for me a dash
back to Jouberton to talk to the Confirmation candidates, before returning to
Potch for the night. I went to bed tired, and not a little concerned that I
still didn’t have a sermon for the Ordination. I was awake at 04.30, but to no
avail. With the service beginning at 12 noon, I was beginning to be a little
concerned – if not panicky! At 09.30, I remembered that some time ago a child
asked me if being a priest is the best way to be a Christian. By 09.45 the
sermon was written – thanks be to God!!!
.JPG) |
| New Deacons, Isaac and Magda |
During the service I sat next to Fr Jacques Pieterse, the
only white priest in the Diocese, who is at St Mary’s, Potch. Next year the
number will be doubled when his Deacon is priested. +Steve does nothing
quickly; add that to the difficulty of stopping Africans singing, large numbers
of family coming forward to help vest each new Deacon/Priest – and then get
back to their places – and it is not surprising that the service finished four
and a half hours after it had begun!! It was a wonderful occasion – they were
all mine in a very special way. Near the end of the service, one of them made a
speech of thanks, and I was presented with a card, a wooden heart and a gift of
money. On the heart were the words: “Many people will walk in and out of your
life, but only a few will leave footprints … (we) love your footprints”. Paper
hanky to the fore! After the service all the new priests were giving blessings
and I think I managed to get to all of them. I had to remind one that he didn’t
have to use the Grace any more, he could do blessings!
Sunday morning it was back to Jouberton and Elias’ first
Eucharist. He did much better than I dared hope, and the two big mistakes were
my fault, not his. One was a language problem: the other a lack of
concentration. I had to baptise 5 people ready for the confirmation next
Sunday, and I forgot to bless the water. As I always say “God can cope: it’s
only us who can’t! The queue of people waiting for his blessing after the
service was endless. He must have been shattered last night.
So today – Monday – I’ve had a restful day, before I throw
myself into the final preparations for the Confirmation of 50+ candidates next
Sunday!! But more of that at a later date.
For now, thank you for all your prayers for all of us, and
especially for me. They were answered in abundance - grace was poured out like
the rain that has come down today! Pray now that the newly ordained may be
faithful ministers of Christ, and be given grace to withstand the temptations
that they will face. Pray too for those to be confirmed this Sunday, that they
may live their lives with “a passion for Jesus” that echoes David Beckham’s
passion for football.
So glad it all went so well for you all.
ReplyDeleteLook forward to seeing their gift - it must have been quite something to receive such a thank- you with such thought behind it.
May God be with each one of them as they start their new roles in their parishes.
Hope you have a good week with whatever it may bring - along with the Confirmation preparations!
Take care, J and R xx