Jimi sees a son ordained priest

By GIBSON TORASO
UPNG journalism
student
THE Karap Catholic parish, in Middle Jimi, Jiwaka, has seen one of its sons ordained as a priest – the first since the church was established there 46 years ago.
The ordination of Fr Solomon Tumbe was witnessed by more than 2,000 people from the 23 Catholic parishes of the Mount Hagen archdiocese and the Kundiawa diocese.
Mount Hagen Bishop Douglas Young said every church member had agreed to his priesthood because Tumbe was a humble and dedicated person.
He said Tumbe’s relatives had dedicated him to Christ and urged the faithful to look after him.
“There is a need by the people to have the sacrament and the word of God to spread the good news and he has dedicated himself to celebrating the Eucharist with Christians,” Young said.
He said Tumbe had given his life to serve and encouraged him to be a model for Christians so they strengthen their faith.
Young said good teachers knew that teaching students was a sacrifice and the same principle applied to being a priest.
He told Tumbe to let go of other things and be holy to serve God.
Young told him to love the people so they would trust him.
“Being a priest is not a job or vacation.
“Be a leader in your congregation and think of this day when in trial,” he said.
He urged lay people to look after Tumbe and continue to support him.
Tobias Yambe, a secondary school teacher and a school mate of Tumbe, shed tears of joy for the hardship they had faced to become who they were today.
He encouraged other Jimi people to courageously persevere in whatever they did to be like them.