Diaconal Ordination in Germany: “A Blessing for Us”
“Here I am!” – These were the central words of Brother Prosper Ngavounsia Namlo Lanwasna, SCJ. “Namlo,” as everyone calls him, was ordained a deacon on Monday, October 19, 2026, in the convent church of Neustadt. The ordination was conferred by Bishop Heiner Wilmer, SCJ, himself a Priest of the Sacred Heart.
He summarized the mission of the deacon in a concise phrase: it is the link between the altar and the street. The deacon provides an answer to questions such as: who takes care of people who need bread, but also of those who need comfort,care, and spirituality?
Bishop Wilmer described the new deacon as “a blessing for us.” He mentioned his family in Cameroon, the injustices his father in particular had to suffer, but from which good ultimately sprang—namely, a solid school education as the cornerstone of a successful life. He also recalled the topic of Namlo’s “very good master’s thesis,” entitled: “The Role of the Church in the Face of Social Injustices in Cameroon.”
Namlo is thus following in the footsteps of the congregation’s founder, Father Leo Dehon, for whom issues of injustice and spirituality were equally central. Nor was there any lack of reference to Pope Francis, who has called for a Church of closeness, with people who go out to the peripheries. “I find this wonderful,” emphasized Bishop Wilmer. In his native Cameroon, where Brother Namlo is now returning, he will find much work in this regard and will be extremely valuable, according to his predictions.
The ordination celebration took place with solemnity and dignity, and African culture shone through at least twice:during the singing of the Sanctus and, even more so, during the thanksgiving hymn, during which the newly ordained deacon played the guitar himself and sang at the top of his voice. “I am very happy,” was his first comment after Mass,amid numerous congratulations.
The Provincial Superior, Father Stefan Tertünte, stated at the end of the celebration that he felt great joy and immense gratitude for this ordination. He described it as a “feast of faith” and thanked his confrere, Bishop Wilmer, for his fraternal closeness.
The participants then celebrated the event, ate well, and sang a lot. The evening thus served as a wonderful opening for the provincial assembly of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, which specifically focused on the house of formation in Freiburg, where Brother Namlo lived for the past seven years.
To learn more about Brother Namlo’s journey so far, click here: https://www.scj.de/news/frater-namlo-studium-beendet-diakonenweihe-im-blick
Photo ©: scj.de
