Ordinations: September 2007

The Church of St Martin de Porres in Orlando West, South Africa, was packed on Saturday (1 September) for the ordination to the priesthood of Matsepane Morare, and the ordination to the diaconate of Rampeoane Hlobo - two Jesuits of the British Province. The service lasted for nearly three hours, with some 30 priests concelebrating with Bishop Patrick Mvemve of Klerksdorp, who was Matsepane's parish priest when he was an altar-boy.

In his homily, the bishop expressed his delight at seeing the work which began at Matsepane's home parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Thokoza, now bearing fruit. He repeated several times how the people of God are 'hungry' and how important it is for priests to be shepherds who feed their sheep. He also stressed the priest's role as a teacher, particularly in their teaching about the sacraments.

The service was conducted - and sung - in Tswana, Sotho, and English, and the 1000-strong congregation included guests from England, Rome and Zambia, as well as the ordinands' families and friends from all over South Africa.

On Sunday, Matsepane returned to his home parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, where he was escorted by a 500m-long procession of the parishioners to celebrate his First Mass.