A priest is a community leader best equipped to speak for his people when he heeds their voice along with the Word of God, Bishop Yusuf Patras of Multan said at an ordination ceremony here.
Speaking Sept. 9 at the priesthood ordination of Father Yusuf Gill, Bishop Patras made special reference to the poverty prevalent in the area and emphasized the priestly role of serving the poor.
Father Yusuf Gill is the second Pakistani, after Father Inayat Gill, to be professed in the Oblates of Mary Immaculate congregation, which has specially committed itself to evangelization of the poor.
Both priests are from Multan, about 600 kilometers south of Islamabad.
The Oblates, whose minor seminary is here, came to Pakistan in 1971 and now have about 20 members in Faisalabad, Hyderabad, Karachi and Multan dioceses.
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