The Catholic Church across Yorkshire's historic West Riding since 1878

The Catholic Church across Yorkshire's historic West Riding since 1878

Ordination of Fr Yemane Aradom

On Saturday 23 July the Cathedral witnessed an Ordination Mass infused with the culture of Eritrea – in music, singing and dance – and in celebration of the Ordination to the Priesthood of Fr Yemane Aradom. He was ordained by Bishop Marcus in the presence of a large congregation and concelebrating clergy, including priests from the Leeds Diocese, and from Oscott College , where Fr Yemane studied for the priesthood.

In the afternoon a celebration was held at the Queen’s Hall, adjoining the Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary at Moortown. The following day Fr Yemane said his First Mass at Ss Peter and Paul Church, Sandal (where he had been previously on a pastoral placement) and later presided at a Mass in the Ge’ez (Eritrean) Rite at Holy Rosary Church in Chapeltown, Leeds.

Below Fr Yemane tells us something of his journey from East Africa to ordination in the Diocese of Leeds.

“My name is Yemane Aradom. I was born in 1994 into a strong Christian family in a village called Emgerguer, Sudan and raised in Eritrea. I came to England as an asylum-seeker in 2014 after a long and tiring journey which took me eight months to reach England, from Eritrea. To leave families and friends behind was not easy but with the help of God’s grace I am now a happy man here.

When I arrived in England safely, I kept praying and asking the question, What do you want Lord from me? God heard my prayer. 2018 was a very important year in my life as I met Bishop Marcus to discuss with him all my desires and hopes to become a priest. God bless him, he humbly invited me to join the seminary. That was the happiest day in my life.

If there is one thing to share, it is that vocation is a call from God, and we can only earn it through a life of prayer and self-denial. A true heart and faith in God will help us to hear God’s voice and be ready to respond. I ask for your prayers and will pray for you all”.

Later in the summer Fr Yemane will take up appointment as Assistant Priest in the Parish of St John Mary Vianney, Leeds.

Ad multos annos!

A video recording of the Ordination Mass is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoQXgsz8Ks0

A gallery of images from Fr Yemane’s Ordination is available at https://www.patricksicephotography.co.uk/blog/

Previous

Next