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March 26, 2019
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March 27, 2019
By Kaelanne Jordan
The local faith community and well-wishers from Guyana, Suriname, the Dominican Republic and the US gathered to witness the ordination of Deacons Lindsay John and Jeffrey Supersad to the priesthood, Monday, March 25.
The pews at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Port of Spain were filled to capacity as persons from the Presbyterian and Muslim faith were also present for the ceremony.
The occasion was of added significance to the Catholic community as it marked the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord—the observance of Mary’s acceptance of the message of Archangel Gabriel.
The ordaining prelate, Archbishop Jason Gordon acknowledged the ordinands’ “very long journey”—Supersad said he discerned God’s call for 30 years, while John responded, ten, with a chuckle.
“Today, that discernment comes to its completion,” the Archbishop told the deacons.
In his homily, Archbishop Gordon observed that like Mary, the deacons were “disturbed” by God to do something “different” to what they wanted.
“…But it was God who pursued you; it was God who was relentless….It is at this moment that through the Holy Spirit you are being prepared by God right now to become a holy priest,” he said.
The Archbishop reminded the newly ordained priests that ego has to die because egos edge God out: “If you are flirting with ego, you can’t be filled with God. It is the ego that is disturbed in the encounter with God because it knows that it is dying…. Ego and God cannot take the same place,” he said.
He further urged the priests to recognise they cannot take people where they themselves are not willing or ready to go.
To this end, Archbishop Gordon challenged the new priests to inculcate this response to God during their ministry: ‘Here I am Lord, I’ve come to do Your will’.
