“Be an employee of Jesus Christ”: Catholic Bishop in Angola Tells Priest at Ordination

Bishop Martín Lasarte Topolansky of the Lwena Catholic Diocese in Angola urged newly ordained priest Fernando Chinhama Chissambue to prioritize his pastoral mission over all other commitments. During the ordination ceremony on August 30, Bishop Lasarte told Chissambue that he must be an employee of Jesus Christ rather than a government employee or a collaborator with the state.

The bishop, a member of the Salesians of Don Bosco, warned that professional activities, personal interests, friendships, money, or comfort should never take precedence over serving the community. While Bishop Lasarte acknowledged that professional work can support social well-being, he stated that such activities must remain secondary to the priest's primary mission. He emphasized that a priest must dedicate his time, abilities, and life to the people entrusted to his care.