BY JEROME BABATE – On Thursday, 19 December 2020, we have the joyful occasion of His
Lordship Bishop Bernard Tissier de Mallerais ordaining three deacons
and a priest for Holy Mother Church, in the presence of more than 20
priests, 6 religious nuns, and nearly 400 faithful.
The Bishop traveled a long journey to Goulburn, Australia, and
celebrated a Solemn Pontifical Mass in conferring the Sacred Order of
the Priesthood to Rev. Mr. Martin Anozie of Nigeria; and Sacred Order
of the Diaconate to Reverend Mr. Daniel Yagan and Reverend Mr. Cyril
Alolaya of The Philippines, and Reverend Mr. Joseph Manyeki of Kenya.
Before moving to the Holy Cross Seminary, Rev. Yagan was working in
Singapore as a computer engineer (he has a PhD degree in electrical
and computer engineering from the National University of Singapore)
while Rev. Alolaya worked in Davao (himself a licensed electrical
engineer and a graduate of the University of Southeastern
Philippines).
During the sermon, Bp. Tissier commented on the rite of the
ordination. He explained how the 3 secondary ceremonies after the
ordination itself express the nature of the Catholic priest: a
mediator between men and God.
After the ordinations Mass, the newly ordained deacons commenced giving
his first blessings to the large number of faithful present and
continued after the banquet.