Report: Anil Fernandes

Mangalore, Jun 12: Eighteen young men, who were preparing and forming themselves to be priests to work in the vineyard of the Lord, were ordained deacons at St Joseph’s Seminary, Jeppu here on Thursday June 12.

Among the 18 deacons, 10 belong to Mangalore Diocese, 2 to Udupi diocese, 1 to Calicut diocese, 2 to Gulbarga diocese, 1 to Shimoga diocese, 1 to Gumla diocese and 1 to Shimdega diocese.

The ordination rite of the diaconate was celebrated with a solemn liturgy of the Eucharist. After the proclamation of the Gospel, the rector of the seminary Fr Joseph Martis presented the candidates to Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo of Udupi to raise them into the order of clergy. Subsequently the Bishop instructed the candidates with the Word of God.

In his homily the bishop called upon the deacons to live a life worthy of their calling. "A deacon is ordained to preach the Word of God, to administer the Sacrament of Baptism and Sacrament of Matrimony. The deacon is essentially called to serve. He serves Christ’s faithful in the name of Bishop or priest. Moreover deaconhood is not a career but a call to Service," he said.

Later, the aspirants pledged to lead a life of celibacy and obedience. After the litany of the saints, the ceremony proceeded with most important sign of the ordination, that is, laying on of hands on
the ordinandi by the Bishop. The rite succeeded in the investiture of the deacons with the stole and dalmatics. Afterwards the Bishop gave them the Book of the Gospels saying, “Believe what you read, preach what you believe and practice what you preach”. The ritual ended with the kiss of peace.

The Holy Eucharist was followed by the felicitation of the newly ordained deacons. Priests, religious, seminarians, parents, friends, and relatives of the deacons witnessed the solemn diaconate liturgy. The beauty of the Eucharistic celebration was enhanced by the angelic singing and prayerful liturgy.

The participants experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit in the celebration.

The newly ordained deacons are:

Dn Cardoza Ashwin Lohith (Mangalore)
Dn Crasta Kenneth Rayner (Mangalore)
Dn D’Souza Paul Sabastian (Mangalore)
Dn D’Souza Rahul Dexter (Mangalore)
Dn D’Souza Santhosh (Mangalore)
Dn Lobo Danzil (Mangalore)
Dn Pais Nelson Deeraj (Mangalore)
Dn Pinto Stany (Mangalore)
Dn Saldanha Praveen Joy (Mangalore)
Dn Sequeira Johnson Lawrence (Mangalore)
Dn Vazhuvelil Jerald Joseph (Calicut)
Dn D’Souza Vijay Joyson (Udupi)
Dn Fernandes Royson Joel (Udupi)
Dn Thoras Vincent (Gulbarga)
Dn Gomes Clevan Dominic (Gulbarga)
Dn Pereira Santhosh (Shimoga)
Dn Ekka Amrit (Gumla)
Dn Topno Xavier Anslem (Shimdega)