Kenyan man ordained priest after 10 years of serving as a deacon

A Kenyan Deacon is experiencing what could be described as a light at the end of the tunnel moment after he was ordained a priest ten years after rising to the status of a deacon.

Rev. Simon Chris Mutuku a Kenyan by origin was on Saturday, February 25, 2023, ordained a Roman Catholic priest in the order of Melchizedek.

His classmates are now clocking 10 years in the vineyard of priesthood but he was ordained about a week ago by Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde of the Archdiocese of Mombasa in Kenya.

In the Catholic Church, transitional deacons are men who are preparing for ordination as priests. They are called “transitional” because they are in a transitional stage between being a lay person and being ordained as a priest.

Transitional deacons typically receive their ordination after completing several years of seminary studies and formation. During their time as transitional deacons, they may be assigned to assist priests in various ministries, such as preaching, baptisms, and marriages. They may also be involved in charitable works and other forms of ministry.

Transitional deacons are distinguished from permanent deacons, who are ordained to the diaconate but do not intend to become priests. Permanent deacons may be married or unmarried and are often involved in parish ministry and charitable works.

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The role of transitional deacons in the Catholic Church is an important one, as they are preparing to become priests and serve the faithful through the celebration of the sacraments, preaching, and pastoral care. The transitional diaconate is seen as a period of discernment and preparation, during which the candidate can further discern his vocation and prepare himself for the responsibilities of the priesthood.

It usually takes a year or two for transitional deacons to be ordained priests.