Former Minister of Tourism Francis Tulloch kneels before Bishop of Montego Bay, Charles Dufour, during his ordination to the Order of the Diaconate at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Montego Bay, St James, on Saturday. - Photo by Claudia Gardner

Eight new Catholic deacons were ordained during a eucharistic celebration at the Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Montego Bay, St James, on Saturday.

The ordination was presided over by ordaining prelate, Bishop of Montego Bay Charles Dufour, in front of a packed church. Among the other inductees were former Tourism Minister Francis Tulloch of the Sacred Heart Church in Reading, St James; Devon Crooks, Francis Lindo and former Sandals Negril manager, Baldwin Powell, of Blessed Sacrament; Silvera Kameka of the Sacred Heart Church in Seaford Town and Samuel Spragg of the Mary Gate of Heaven Church in Negril.

Two other deacons, Fiavivini Etuale and Faranisisi Tuliatu from the Archdiocese of Samoa-Apia, were also ordained.

Lead by example

In his address, Dufour urged the new deacons to lead by example so the lives of others could be improved.

"Your job is not just to go to Mass on Sunday, read the gospel, dress up in the best and look pretty. Your ministry requires sacrifice and zeal and humility and total dedication. Following the example of Jesus, your Lord and Master, you are going in to serve, not to be served," he said.

"You must be a foot soldier that when you walk in the hills and valleys, everybody knows you, even the lizards must know you; even the 'peenie-wallies' (fireflies) must know you, even the criminals must know you," he added.

Congregation cautioned

Dufour said there was still a need for more deacons, youth ministers and other categories of church workers. He also had some strong words of caution for members of the congregation.

"Love your priest, respect your priest, pray for your priest," he said. "Show your appreciation to your priest, because when you do that, others will see. But if you show your priest no respect, if you diss your priest, if you say things that ought not to be said, then when people see you, they will not want to be part of that congregation because they will say those people have no respect for their priest." he said.

claudia.gardner@gleanerjm.com