Today, Thursday June 25th, five seminarians of the Diocese of Buea preparing for diaconal ordination were admitted to candidacy at the chapel of the Bishop of Buea.
The Admission to Candidacy for seminarians preparing for the diaconate is a formal liturgical rite by which the Church officially recognizes that a seminarian has demonstrated the necessary qualities and has freely expressed his intention to continue preparation for Sacred Orders. Through this rite, the candidate publicly declares his desire to dedicate himself to the service of God and the Church. The five seminarians professed the Creed before their bishop. The celebration of this rite establishes a closer bond between the candidates and the Church. It signifies a mutual commitment: the candidates commit themselves more deeply to discerning and preparing for ordained ministry, while the Church assumes greater responsibility for their formation and accompaniment.
The candidates were also officially incardinated into the diocese. Incardination is the canonical attachment of a cleric to a particular diocese, personal prelature, institute of consecrated life, or other ecclesiastical jurisdiction recognized by the Church. Through incardination, a deacon or priest becomes officially enrolled in a specific Church entity and comes under the authority of its bishop or lawful superior. The Church requires every cleric to be incardinated somewhere, so that no cleric exists without proper ecclesiastical supervision, support, and accountability.
During this important event, the five seminarians promised obedience and service to the Bishop of Buea, His Lordship Michael Bibi.
