Media Release

Mangaluru, Oct 17: St Joseph inter-diocesan seminary rejoiced on Thursday as the brothers of Theology were conferred different ministries by the bishop of the diocese here and the chairman of the Board of Administrators of the seminary, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha.

31 of the first year Theology brothers received their official candidacy to priesthood. Though they were already admitted to the seminary, one has to be formally admitted by the Church as Candidate for the Clerical State. At the same time, 27 brothers of the second year Theology and 32 brothers of the third year Theology received the ministries of reader and acolyte respectively. These ministries are instruments to help out in the proclamation of the Good News and continue the mission of Christ.

The liturgy began with a solemn Eucharist presided over by the bishop and con-celebrated by rector Fr Ronald Serrao, Fr Maxim, minister of Human Formation, Theology section, Fr Milton Jacob, moderator, first-year Theology and Fr Francis the spiritual formation director. During the liturgy, the Ministries and Candidacy was conferred onto the brothers.

After the Eucharistic celebration, Br Pradeep Cardoza expressed his sentiments of gratitude to the bishop, rector and formators for facilitating this ceremony. The rector, in turn, congratulated the Brothers for their achievements. The bishop in his address reminded the brothers of their responsibility of being good pastors of the church and to be imitators of Christ himself.