VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Catholic Diocese of Seychelles welcomed a new priest yesterday morning, with the ordination of Aubrey Pon Waye by Bishop Alain Harel during a special service at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The ceremony, marked by solemn ritual and song, was attended by the new priest’s family and friends, as well as the Head of State, President Wavel Ramkalawan, First Lady Linda Ramkalawan, and Vice-President Ahmed Afif.
Father Pon Waye becomes the latest addition to the small but active Catholic clergy serving the faithful of Seychelles. The ordination ceremony, known as the Rite of Ordination, is a centuries-old tradition in which the candidate is called to the priesthood through prayer, the laying on of hands by the bishop, and the anointing with chrism. In his homily, Bishop Harel called on the new priest to be a servant of the Gospel and of the people entrusted to his care.
Speaking after the ceremony, members of Father Pon Waye’s family expressed their joy and pride at his calling, noting that his journey to the priesthood has been a long one marked by years of study, prayer, and pastoral work in various parishes. The Catholic Diocese of Seychelles, which covers the country’s 115 islands, continues to play an important role in education, healthcare, and social welfare, in addition to its central spiritual mission.
