The trip covered 21 days, starting on October 18th, and as much as the people asked Bishop Nektarios for more time, for him to attend to all of their needs, it was impossible.
Seven priests were ordained, two deacons were ordained, and one monk was tonsured.
Five priests were ordained in Tshikapa: Fathers Joseph, Zacharie, Jean, Spyridon and Clement. One deacon was ordained: Father Pierre. Deacon Augustin was received and chrismated. One monk was tonsured: Monk Gregory.
After travelling about 450 kilometers on motorcycles, at night, they arrived at the Parish of Saint Nicholas in Kananga. A multitude of people welcomed them. The people had been waiting for them the whole day, from the morning.
Father Lucien was ordained a priest, and Father Alfred was ordained a deacon.
Bishop Nektarios could only describe the faithful in Dhilembue, at the Church of the Holy Trinity, in these words: “The joy of Christians was too much to compare.”
Father Samuel was ordained to the priesthood.
Despite the challenges of the trip, Bishop Nektarios was full of joy that the Church in the Congo has new clergy and is growing. He observed that the faithful in the Congo are poor, but that they are generally thankful and content. The infrastructure of the churches and schools have improved since his last visit. But above everything, the love and joy of the faithful rises above everything. Their love for each other, for the clergy, and for the true Church.