Media Release
Jun 16, 2017: The Holy Mother Church was gladdened having received the invitation of 16 youngsters responding to the call of God and being elevated to the order of ‘Diaconate’, at St Joseph’s Inter-diocesan Seminary, Jeppu, Mangaluru on Thursday, June 15.
Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, bishop of Mangaluru conferred the order of ‘Diaconate’ on 16 candidates belonging to 5 dioceses from across India and one religious congregation.
Ashwin Crasta, Thrishan D’Souza, Rohan Dias, Flavian Lobo, and Roopesh Tauro were from the diocese of Mangaluru. Ashwin Aranha were from the diocese of Udupi, Joly Alphons, Martin Matthew from Kannur diocese, Fredin Joseph from Calicut diocese, Roshan D’Souza and Deepak Furtado from Gulbarga, and Rayan Pinto, Nelson Cardoza, Anthon Souza, Peter Periera, Wilson D’Costa for the Carmelite congregation.
A solemn homily was preached by ordaining prelate Dr Aloysius Paul D’souza, who meaningfully explained the nature and importance of the ministry of Diaconate in the church. He further urged the Ordinadi to do the will of God generously and to serve God and mankind in love and joy. Addressing the deacons, the bishop in a core message of the homily expressed, “You are the ministers of the word of God and you have to express in action what you proclaim by word of mouth. The church extends its love and whole hearted acceptance towards this young mens response to the divine call.”
The entire service was cheered with the auspicious and high note of gratitude from the part of the entire Josephite family being proposed by Fr Joseph Martis, rector of the seminary, who thanked the huge gathering.
On behalf of the newly ordained deacons, dn Ashwin Aranha whole heartedly expressed his sentiments of gratitude towards the formators and their respective Prelates for helping them to ascend the altar of the Lord.
The angelic choir was led by Fr Ronald Serrao, the liturgical animator of the seminary. The ceremony was concelebrated by around 100 priests of various dioceses of South India. Great number of Christ’s faithful witnessed the same. The Diaconate programme culminated with a colorful felicitation programme.
