Dimapur, Dec. 29: Rev. Fr. Kwetrangging Dominic, the first diocesan priest and the third priest from Zeliang community was ordained by Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima on December 29, at St. Xavier College Auditorium Hall, Jalukie town, under the priestly motto “Thy will be done”. Rev. Dominic was led by the village community in the traditional attire along with his mother and uncle.
Speaking on the occasion, Bishop said the role of every Catholic priest is to lift up Jesus before the people so that Jesus can give eternal life. The Church requires the practice of the apostolic Church, that a priest be ordained at the hands of a Bishop. That is why Catholic Church is also called Episcopal or hierarchical. It is not the Bishop who makes the priest, but the Almighty God, said the Bishop.
Bishop also said the whole thing rests upon one’s faith in the power of God—the supernatural, miraculous, incomprehensible power of God. Therefore, he said we are to stand as witnesses while God, by his power and will, makes a priest for himself—a Priest, who shall devote his life to serving and glorifying God, whose primary interest and end in life, whose dreadful duty, whose unspeakably joyful privilege it shall be, to lift up Jesus Christ before men, in order that they may look unto him and receive eternal life, and thereby glorify God.Bishop also cited the Pope Francis’ saying on the occasion of the Chrism Mass in 2014, “the priest is the poorest of men unless Jesus enriches him by his poverty; the most useless of servants unless Jesus calls him his friend; the most ignorant of men unless Jesus patiently teaches him as he did Peter; the frailest of Christians unless the good shepherd strengthens him in the midst of the flock”.
Bishop said the priest in short is God’s priest and servant and must be God’s humble servant, belong to God, body and soul. He added that the true priest lives no longer for himself, but solely to the end that he may hold up the Crucified before men ended Bishop’s reflection.
Rev. Fr. Kwetrangging Dominic was born on January 9, 1989, and is the third child of late Herangpetpe John and Paugwazoile Mary. He had two brothers. After completing his elementary examination, he began his studies in pursuit of priesthood in the year 2003 at St. Xavier Seminary Jalukie (High School), Orientation Course at Vianney Home, Chabua, Assam (2007), Philosophy and graduation at Salesian College of Higher Education, Dimapur, Regency at St. John the Evangelist Church, Khonoma and St. Mary’s Church, Seyochung, Theology at Oriens Theological College, Shillong (2013-2016), Diaconate at St. Xavier Jalukie.
Rev. Fr. Dominic, the newly ordained priest while, acknowledging the mercy of God in his life, he recalled his parents and brothers who lit the spark of the ideas of becoming a priest. He thanked the Bishop James, Fr. Jose Edasseril, Anthonysamy and other priests, nuns and people who stood by him.
The deacon was presented by the parents for ordination after blessing him and removing the traditional dress, symbolizing that he is being set apart for God’s work.
The ordination ceremony included the examination of the candidate, invocation of Holy Spirit through the intercession of May, the mother of Jesus and all the saints in the Church, laying on of hands by the bishop and all the concelebrating priests, prayer of consecration, investiture, anointing with holy chrism, presentation of gift and the kiss of peace.
Rev. Fr. John Vipral, assistant priest, Jalukie and R. Agnes anchored the program, special items were presented by St. Xavier’s Church elders, cultural dance from “B” Jalukie, Jalukie town, Songlhuh, CYA, Paren and Poilwa and by Samziuram, while Kevipele Paul proposed vote of thanks.
