Our dear brother Malusi Ncanana received his diaconate ordination on 22nd October, 2017. The ordination was presided over by His Grace, Protase Rugambwa, Secretary of the Congregation for the Evangelization of the People. The ceremony took place in the Basilica of St Apollinare. The church was filled up by seminarians and alumni of our college. Inclusive as well were priests and seminarians of Eshowe, the diocese of Rev Malusi, and also friends and well-wishers from South Africa at large. Present also were his colleagues from the university of Santa Croce, from Cavriago, the locality of Reggio Emilia where Malusi does pastoral work during the summer and other periods of holidays. In the list furthermore includes the parishioners of St Anthony with the parish priest, being likewise a parish in Cassette where Rev Malusi helps out during the holidays. The event in a special way brought us once more into the warm hands of our former rector, Don Julio Dieguez that now forms part of the formators of the International Roman College of the Prelature of Opus Dei.
In his homily, His Grace, Rugambwa highlighted the coincidence of the date of the diaconate ordination with the World Missionary Day that is celebrated this year under the title: Mission at the Heart of the Christian Faith. In this sense, he spoke of the missionary dimension of Christian vocation with specific references concerning the mission of the deacons in the church and for the church. He concluded his words with a citation from the Message of the Holy Father for this missionary day: «The Church’s mission, directed to all men and women of good will, is based on the transformative power of the Gospel. The Gospel is Good News filled with contagious joy, for it contains and offers new life: the life of the Risen Christ who, by bestowing his life-giving Spirit, becomes for us the Way, the Truth and the Life (cf. Jn 14:6). He is the Way who invites us to follow him with confidence and courage. In following Jesus as our Way, we experience Truth and receive his Life, which is fullness of communion with God the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. That life sets us free from every kind of selfishness, and is a source of creativity in love».
After a festive lunch in the college, the joyful event took another shape which transpired in the Salone Grande. Akira (Giappone) and Jerome (Tanzania) served as the Masters of Ceremony of the occasion in the presentation of different groups of events. Hence, there was a spectacular musical and dance presentations comprising of priests, seminarians and a sister from South Africa. Also, presented was another musical performance from seminarians ranging from Tanzania, Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi and South Africa. But in all these moments, the highpoint of the event culminated in the words of gratitude elucidated by the celebrant, Malusi. His words were laden with great testimonies pointing out some moments of his life in showing how the love of God has guided him towards his priestly vocation. He gladly thanked all and sundry for the part they played in helping him to answer God`s call. This was followed by some edifying words from Don Claudio Gonzaga, the parish priest of Cavriago. He then presented a gift to Rev Malusi in which all the seminarians shared in. The event was also graced by Hon. George Johannes, the Ambassador of South Africa to the Holy See. In the spirit thanksgiving to God, our rector, Don Javier Canosa, took the floor to thank God and all for the part they played towards the success of the ordination. Being invited to the floor, our former rector, Don Julio Dieguez (with whom Malusi spent almost his years of formation with at our college during his tenure as the rector), joined his voice in thanking God for his wonderful deeds in the life of Rev Malusi.