“Be ready to serve the people” – Double ordination of deacons in St. Michael’s
On 4 December 2025, the Archbishop of Belgrade, Cardinal László Német SVD, gave a special sign of hope: in St. Michael's Church in Vienna I, he ordained two Salvatorians, Fr. Adrian Hafner from Romania and Fr. Jean-Luc Kapend Chiseng from the Democratic Republic of Congo, as deacons. Numerous confreres and sisters from home and abroad, family members, friends and guests attended the celebration. Both candidates are expected to be ordained priests the following year.
Deacon – a ministry of lasting importance
At the beginning of his sermon, Cardinal Német posed a provocative question: Are deacons still needed in a secular world? He answered it himself by emphasising that deacons are not chosen to be priests, but to be servants – a term that may sound negative at first, but accurately describes the essence of this ministry. “They are called to serve with love in the proclamation of the Gospel,” he said, quoting from the Salvatorian Manifesto: “We are ready to serve all people everywhere in the world, in every way and by every means that the love of Christ inspires.”
Service out of love – not merely social activity
The gifts that a person possesses should be understood as gifts from God and as a path to personal perfection, the cardinal continued. Christian service is not merely humanism or social activity, but living love, as expressed in the Epistle to the Galatians: ‘Through love, serve one another.’ This spirit of service should be the unmistakable hallmark of deacons.
Openness as the core of every encounter
The archbishop particularly emphasised the importance of openness and empathy. A deacon must approach people with an alert heart and must not close himself off. ‘Keep your eyes and ears open and [...] don't close your heart’ – this attitude, he stressed, is indispensable, especially in a diverse world. The effectiveness of a deacon is based less on cold professionalism and more on actions ‘that spring from love.’ In this context, he also recalled the Salvatorian motto that the goal of all apostolic activity is for people to recognise God and find ‘life in abundance’ (Jn 17:3).
A modern image for spiritual vigilance
Cardinal Német used a vivid image at the end of his homily: a smartphone can do a lot, but it needs to be recharged regularly to remain functional. Similarly, a priest – and therefore also a deacon – needs spiritual energy. Those who become empty inside lose their connection to people. He therefore appealed to the ordination candidates to always remain ready and spiritually alert, because no one knows when ‘the Lord may send you a personal message’.
Solemn liturgy
The solemn service was accompanied by several concelebrants, including Provincial Father Márton Gál, Father István Barazsuly, Father Michael Tesha, Father Hubert Kranz and Father Charles Mushitu. The music was provided by cantor Lenka Lennerova and Manuel Schuen on the Sieber organ.
A milestone for the candidates – and a celebration for the Church
The ordination to the diaconate was not only a decisive milestone in the personal journey of the two candidates, but also a moment of profound joy and renewal for the whole Church. With this sacrament, they were called and empowered to proclaim the Gospel, administer baptism, accompany married couples into the covenant of the Church, guide the deceased on their final journey, and assist the priests at the altar. It was a ministry that grew out of the heart of the church community – and at the same time a promise to continue to shape and support the life of the church in the futur.
Copyright of all photos: Salvatorianer/rs