Spain: Two new Deacons for the Mission

The solemn Eucharist, which lasted about an hour and a half, was presided over by the Archbishop of Granada, Mons. José María Gil Tamayo, accompanied by around twenty priests and a deacon. The liturgical animation was led by the Comboni scholastics.

During the entrance procession, Saúl was accompanied by his father, Ribeiro José Bazo, and his godmother, Lucrecia Venancio Mateus, who had travelled from Mozambique on behalf of the whole family. Etienne, for his part, was accompanied by his uncle, Hubert Lwaramanga, and his cousin, Benjamín Kwepanga, who travelled from Belgium and Italy respectively.

The parishioners were joined by Comboni Lay Missionaries, the Comboni Missionary Sisters, friends and companions of Etienne and Saúl, as well as some professors from Loyola University.

«This is not a career»

In his homily, Mons. José María began by expressing his gratitude for the presence and work of the Comboni Missionaries in Spain, highlighting in particular their missionary animation through the magazine Mundo Negro. He then addressed his message to the two candidates for the diaconate.

«This is not a career. [...] Be servants of the Word [...]», insisted the Archbishop of Granada, while showing the assembly the dalmatic as a sign of the service proper to the deacon.

During the rite of ordination, as he handed Etienne and Saúl the Gospel, he said to them: «Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose messenger you have become; believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practise what you teach».

For his part, the Provincial Superior of Spain, Fr Miguel Ángel Llamazares, thanked Mons. José María for his presence and closeness, as well as everyone who took part in the celebration. He also recalled the history of the formation community in Granada, which has officially been an international scholasticate since 2023.

«The composition of that group of students was somewhat different from what it is today, in terms of their countries of origin, the colour of their skin and their experience of faith, because those were different times», he explained.

At the end of the Mass, Etienne and Saúl addressed the assembly to thank the parish community, the guests and their families for their support and accompaniment.

Etienne performed on guitar the song Whoever Loses His Life for Me Will Find It, by Sister Glenda. Saúl, accompanied by Hubert, Benjamín, his father and his godmother, showed those present an African cloth decorated with the face of the founder, St Daniel Comboni, which had been brought from Mozambique.

From Perpetual Vows to the Diaconate

Etienne Nteyamba and Saúl Bazo arrived in Spain in 2021. After spending a year learning Spanish, they began their studies in Theology at Granada Loyola University.

After completing their academic formation, both remained in the province to continue their missionary service: Etienne in Barcelona and Saúl in Madrid.

On 5 September, in the chapel of the Comboni Provincial House in Madrid, Etienne and Saúl made their perpetual vows in the presence of the Church and of Fr Miguel Ángel Llamazares, who represented Fr Luigi Fernando Codianni, Superior General of the Comboni Missionaries.

The celebrations of perpetual vows and diaconal ordination have been an uncommon event in the Comboni Province of Spain: the last perpetual profession had taken place 15 years ago, while the previous diaconal ordination dates back more than 20 years.

Fr Boniface Gbama, mccj