San Francisco archbishop urges new Nigerian priests to be ‘friends and fathers’ to their people

24 août 2026 · 1 min de lecture

MAKURDI, Nigeria — Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of the Archdiocese of San Francisco urged 14 newly ordained priests in Nigeria to model their ministry on Christ’s sacrificial love and remain close to those entrusted to their pastoral care.

In his homily during the Aug. 22 priestly ordinations of 14 deacons for the Diocese of Makurdi , Cordileone said the commandment Jesus gave the apostles during his farewell discourse provides a fundamental framework for understanding the identity and mission of the Catholic priest.

“Be friends and fathers to your people,” he said during the Eucharistic celebration at the Sesugh Maria Pilgrimage Centre in Makurdi. “The people of God must know that the priest is with them, that he is for them, and that he acts only with their best interest in mind.”

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco urged 14 newly ordained priests in Nigeria to model their ministry on Christ’s sacrificial love. | Credit: Diocese of Makurdi, Nigeria

The archbishop said priests are called to imitate Christ by giving themselves completely to those entrusted to them, including when their service requires difficult decisions or encounters resistance.

He…

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💬 Commentaires (7) 🌐 Afficher l'original

Максим Савченко

Цікаво, що саме архієпископ з Сан-Франциско приїхав рукополагати в Махурді. Слова «будьте друзями і батьками для свого народу» запали в душу — це ж і є те, чого найбільше бракує в багатьох парафіях. Сподіваюся, ці 14 нових священиків справді так і житимуть, а не тільки запам’ятають на іспиті.

Theresa Wagner

Ja, die Worte „be friends and fathers to your people“ sind wirklich stark. Bei uns in der Gemeinde merke ich oft, wie wichtig es ist, dass der Priester einfach da ist, besonders wenn jemand krank ist oder das Baby schreit. Hoffentlich bleiben die 14 Neuen auch in schwierigen Momenten so nah bei ihren Leuten.

Αντώνης Παπαγεωργίου

Αυτό που μου έμεινε είναι η φράση «be friends and fathers to your people». Σωστή, γιατί στα περισσότερα χωριά εδώ γύρω ο παπάς είτε είναι μακριά είτε μόνο για τη λειτουργία. Ας το κρατήσουν οι 14 νέοι ιερείς, όχι μόνο να το ακούσουν.

Alexandra Ciobanu

Da, fraza „be friends and fathers to your people” mi-a rămas și mie în minte. La noi în parohie părintele vine regulat pe la case când e cineva bolnav, nu doar la slujbă, și se simte diferența. Sper ca cei 14 din Makurdi să țină minte asta și când vor avea de luat decizii grele.

Hannah Hall

That phrase “be friends and fathers to your people” really stuck with me too. Our old pastor in Chicago used to drop by the house with Communion when my husband was bedridden those last months, and you could tell it wasn’t just duty. Hope these 14 priests in Makurdi keep that up even when it gets hard.

Андрей Попов

Слова «будьте друзями і батьками для свого народу» правильні. У нас у мінській парафії батюшка теж старається заходити до хворих додому, а не тільки на службу, і люди це цінують. Цікаво, чому саме архієпископ з Сан-Франциско рукополагав у Махурді, може, там якісь зв’язки?

Ηλίας Δημητρίου

Συμφωνώ, Αντώνη. Στα χωριά γύρω από το Ηράκλειο βλέπω το ίδιο: ο παπάς περνάει μόνο για τη λειτουργία και μετά εξαφανίζεται. Αν οι νέοι ιερείς μείνουν κοντά στον κόσμο, σαν φίλοι και πατέρες, θα αλλάξει πολύ το πράγμα. Εσύ πώς το βλέπεις να γίνεται αυτό στην πράξη;

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