Three Jesuits were ordained to the diaconate in the St Mary’s Chapel of St Ignatius Church, Tokyo, on 28 February. The newly ordained deacons are Paulus Yamauchi Yutaka, Christian Mukadi Ilunga, and Claudien Cubaka Bagayamukwe. The latter two are missionaries applied to Japan from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Central Africa Jesuit Province). Msgr Andrea Lembo, PIME, recently ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Tokyo, presided over the ordination.

The date was set to coincide with Deacon Claudien’s few days of vacation from his study of biblical theology in Lyon, France. The choir enlivened the liturgy by singing songs in various African languages. Deacon Mukadi’s sister and her husband, both doctors, travelled from the Congo and made the formal presentation of gifts at the offertory. Deacon Yamauchi has been working with the children of the parish, but they could not attend as it was an ordinary weekday. A large African group gathered for a celebration that evening, and the Scholasticate hosted a celebratory barbecue the following day.

Newly ordained Deacons Paulus Yamauchi Yutaka SJ, Christian Mukadi Ilunga SJ, and Claudien Cubaka Bagayamukwe SJ

The three deacons are now continuing their studies and will be ordained to the priesthood later this year: Deacons Mukadi and Claudien in their home province on 24 August and Deacon Yamauchi in Tokyo on 14 September. [Japan Province]