Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao and Fr Sebastiao Mascarenhas along with the 11 newly ordained deacons of Pilar Society.
OLD GOA
Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao has said the 11 deacons belonging to the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier, (Society of Pilar) have a special ministry of service of the Word, Altar and Charity, just as the Apostles chose seven men filled with the Holy Spirit as deacons to serve.
While preaching on the occasion of the Diaconate Ordination of the 11 scholastics in the chapel of the Mission Seminary at Pilar, Archbishop Ferrao said the newly ordained deacons are called for joyful, humble and selfless service.
The newly ordained deacons who hail from different parts of India are Andrew Joseph (Tamil Nadu), Cruzberto Antonio Vallan Da Silva Colaco (Velim), Stefan Colaco (Navelim), Marcelino D'Costa (Maharashtra), Nithesh Nishanth D’Souza (Karnataka), Clanny Fernandes (Ponda), Darrell Fran Fernandes (Maharashtra), Wilson Godad (Maharashtra), Reginald Eugene Kerketta (Jharkhand), Ashim Pramod Minj (Jharkhand) and Sushil Bernard Xalxo (Jharkhand).
In his homily, Archbishop Ferrao began citing the exemplary service rendered by St Joseph Vaz in the island of Ceylon during the plague of small pox and compared it to the current scenario of the world.
“When their own people abandoned those who were infected, the Apostle from Goa totally dedicated his life for the service of the suffering,” he said.
“The desire for greatness is there in human heart, but Jesus invites us to go beyond and serve others in all humility. Just as the Apostles chose seven men filled with the Holy Spirit, as deacons to serve, the 11 deacons have a special ministry of service of the Word, Altar and Charity,” he added.
The Ordination rite of Diaconate has a unique feature in which the Bishop places the Word of God in the hands of the deacon and calls him to “Believe what he reads, teach what he believes and practice what he teaches.”
The Archbishop urged the deacons to be ardent readers and proclaimers of the Word of God and nurture the faith of the faithful.
He wished and prayed for the Deacons that they may be rooted in Jesus and empowered to be Joyful servants like St Francis Xavier, St Joseph Vaz, and Venerable Agnelo D’Souza.
Speaking on the occasion, Fr Sebastiao Mascarenhas sfx, Superior General of Pilar Society, thanked the archbishop, parents of the deacons, benefactors, the respective diocesan bishops and parish priests and Fr Peter Melo Fernandes sfx (Rector) and all formators.
He called the Deacons to be true and genuine, self-sacrificing and compassionate servants in the mission of Christ. Deacon Nithesh D’Souza expressed sentiments of Gratitude on behalf of all the deacons.
