Ten (10) seminarians were on Sunday ordained as deacons at the Saint Augustine Millennium Major Seminary (SAMS) in Tamale after completing a nine-year intensive theoretical and practical studies.

The group would be proclaimed as priests after a successful six months of service in the various parishes they would be posted to.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale, Most Reverend Philip Naameh, speaking at the ceremony, explained that being conferred with a deacon title meant one had abandoned his own will and had decided to serve God.

The occasion was also used to dedicate a newly built church for the seminary.

The Archbishop said the role of a deacon included proclamation of the word of God, assisting marriage blessing, presiding over funeral, seeing to the ministry of charities as well as caring for the widow, orphan and the needy.

He urged the deacons to exhibit a high sense of fidelity to Jesus Christ, moral integrity and obedience to their superiors as well as to the congregation.

Most Reverend Naameh bemoaned the use of church premises as market place for selling items including news papers and newsletters.

“Although some people argue that proceeds of these items are use to help the church, but it is not just right in the sight of God. Make sure the church is use for it purpose,” he said.

Vice Rector of the Seminary, Very Reverend Rudolph Alumam, who gave the background of the school, said the seminary was instituted in September 2000.

He said from a humble and difficult beginning, seminarians and formators used the contractor’s wooden shed as both dining hall and chapel.

Today he said, SAMS had steadily risen to consist of three 10-unit residential for seminarian, residence for three formators, and a lecture and dining halls.

Very Reverend Alumam thanked the Saint Peters Apostles in Rome, Friends of the States and individuals for their support towards to institution of the seminary.