In his homily, Abbot Stephan recalled the beginnings, which were also associated with questions: “Can a Colombian of all those in the Sauerland do well?” Southern Tanzania for three years after his solemn profession in 2003. There the desire to become a priest matured in him, and so he returned to Germany in 2005 and studied theology at the seminary for late vocations in Lantershofen. In 2010 he was ordained a deacon by then adveniate bishop Franz Grave of Essen and was again sent to Ndanda, where he was ordained a priest in 2011.
Pioneering work in Mozambique
There he worked as a pastor, first in Tanzania and in 2014 he was sent to a new foundation in northern Mozambique. There he carried out real pioneering work, which has become increasingly difficult given the political situation and the threat of Islamist rebels. So he returned to Meschede in 2018 and worked as a pastor in the Portuguese congregation before also taking over the leadership of the Spanish-speaking congregation in Dortmund, where he still works today. A life full of new beginnings, according to Abbot Stephen, which is characterized by trust in God even in dark moments, as Psalm 23 then says: “I too must wander in the dark gorge, I fear no evil”.
After the homily, Fr. Jorge renewed his profession with his brothers and sang the devotional hymn of “Suscipe” as he did 25 years ago: “Receive me, Lord, according to your word, and I will live; do not let me fail in my hope.”
After the liturgy there was a meeting with all of Fr. Jorge’s friends and companions in the AbteiForum. There was also an opportunity to congratulate the jubilee and to address him a few personal words for the future.
