On 21st December 2013, His Grace Panteleimon, Bishop of Brazzaville and Gabon, with the prayers and blessings of His Beatitude Theodoros II, Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa, conducted the ordination to the Priesthood of Deacon Paul Diafouka at the Holy Church of St Irene in Dolisie. During his homily the Bishop gave paternal advice and encouragement to the new Priest, by analyzing the words of St Chrysostom regarding the Priesthood.
The new Priest, aged 42, is married, father of two children, and will serve as Parish Priest of the Holy Parish Church of St Irene in the city of Dolisie, from where he originates, and will also have the pastoral responsibility of the 289 pupils of the “Light of the Nations” schools and of the 25 little children of the “St Efstathios” Orphanage, of the Holy Diocese of Brazzaville.
Present at the Eucharistic gathering were His Excellency the Governor of the Niari District, Mr. Seraphim Bhalat, Presidential Adviser of the Republic of the Congo, the Mayor of Dolisie, the Presidents of the Courts of the Niari District, Clergy and others. The eccleisth Mr. Seraphim Bhalat, Presidential Adviser of the Republic of the Congo, the Mayor of Dolisie, the Presidents of the Courts of the Niari District, Clergy and others. The Ecclesiastical event was covered by the “D.V.S+.” television channel.
Following the ordination to the Priesthood of Fr. Paul Diafouka, all the Parish Churches of the Diocese of Brazzaville and Gabon now have regular Parish Priests.