On June 21, 2025, the Consolata Family in Brazil marked a historic moment with the diaconate ordination of young seminarians Gerald Ngula, Henry Anyine, and Prosper Lupeke. The ordination was presided over by Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer, Metropolitan Archbishop of São Paulo. The Eucharistic celebration took place at Our Lady Consolata Parish in Jardim São Bento, in the northern part of São Paulo city.
By Maria Emerenciana Raia *
Some weeks earlier, on May 4, 2025, Gerald, Henry, and Prosper had professed their perpetual vows together with Ben Nyongesa and Garuma Barkhesa at Saint Mark the Evangelist Parish in Pedra Branca, São Paulo. Ben and Garuma are scheduled to be ordained deacons on July 6 at Saint Margaret Parish in Curitiba, in the State of Paraná.
The Eucharistic celebration was attended by the Regional Superior of the Consolata Missionaries in Brazil, Father Paulo Mzé, the rector of the João Batista Bísio International Seminary, Father Mauricio Guevara, as well as Consolata missionaries and missionary sisters, fellow priests, and laypeople who support the mission of the two institutes.
The diaconate is a ministry of service and charity and represents the first step toward priestly ordination. For this reason, in his homily, Cardinal Scherer encouraged the new deacons to fully embrace their ministry: “The Lord has given you an example. Do what He did. Serve joyfully in charity. Present yourselves to the community as servants,” he emphasized.
Regional Superior Father Paulo thanked everyone for their presence, highlighting that the new deacons are part of the Consolata family, present on four continents and in more than 25 countries.
After the ordination ceremony, a celebration took place in the parish hall.
About the New Deacons
Gerald Ngula is Kenyan, born in Makueni on July 22, 1993. His vocational journey began on August 27, 2013, when he entered the Consolata Seminary in response to a stirring in his heart that burned like a silent ember. After studying philosophy in his home country, he arrived in Brazil, where he studied theology at the Institute of Theology and Pastoral Ministry (ITESP) in São Paulo. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Canon Law at the São Paulo Apostle Faculty.
Henry Anyine is from Uganda, born on May 9, 1992. From a young age, he felt the inner restlessness of someone seeking something greater. On August 27, 2014, he entered the Consolata Missionary Seminary. He completed his philosophical studies in Kenya and made his first religious profession on July 27, 2019. He then came to Brazil, where he earned his degree in theology at ITESP and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (PUC-SP).
Prosper Lupeke was born on February 22, 1992, in Njombe, Tanzania. He responded to the call of the Holy Spirit and entered the seminary on September 30, 2014. He completed his philosophical studies in Tanzania and, after his first religious profession, arrived in Brazil on July 27, 2019. He earned his theology degree at ITESP and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in theology at PUC-SP.
* Maria Emerenciana Raia is a journalist for the magazine Missões in Brazil.
