By Chau Ho, 10 March, 2011
Deacons from five nationalities were ordained to the priesthood by Perth’s Archbishop Barry James Hickey at St. Mary’s Cathedral yesterday evening.
Of the five deacons, only Daniel Boyd is Australian.
The rest are Anibal Cunha from East Timor, Cyprian Shikokoti from Kenya, Emmanuel Dimobi – a Nigerian and a Vietnam-born Michael Quynh.
“We have the whole world here in this Cathedral tonight,” said Archbishop Hickey at the welcoming to the Mass.
Monsignor Kevin Long, rector of St. Charles Seminary where the deacons spent their formation period said that the ordination manifested the universality of the Catholic Church.
“It’s the sign of the Church which doesn’t belong to one culture but represents people all over the world,” said Monsignor Long.
The newly ordained priests, except Father Quynh, had spent at least two years in the seminary which is a multicultural community.
“The seminary with a variety of nationalities reflects the reality of the Church,” said the Monsignor.
“However, it’s a challenge for overseas students when they encounter different viewpoints about the Catholic Church in Australia.
“They should be aware of Australia’s distinctive features, values and expectations,” Monsignor Long said.
At the moment, there are 18 seminarians from a number of countries attending the priesthood formation in St. Charles Seminary.
Father Cyprian Shikokoti, one of the newly ordained, said the ordination is a sign of the oneness of the Church.
“Present in the Cathedral, all of us, with different families, friends and our own personalities, brought the Church alive,” Father Cyprian said.
Father Cyprian had spent three years in St. Charles Seminary with fellow seminarians from many countries such as Zambia, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, South America, Burma and Vietnam.
“The Church is one, but we live the oneness in different capacities, different cultures,” said Father Cyprian.
“Back home in Kenya, we say ‘How much do you know? How well can you do?’
“Here it is more likely: ‘What’s your degree?’
“In spite of differences, we learn how to integrate for the common good of the community, and we experience the universality of the Church.”
Father Cyprian will serve people in Good Shepherd Parish, Kelmscott after his holiday in Kenya.
“Being in the church and now serving in the church, we are called to break through cultural barriers.
“People here in Australia want me to be a priest, to be available, and just to be a priest,” he said.
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