The start of the winter season in Rome may have brought with it the cold breeze in the seminary. Despite this, however, our hearts did not grow cold as they were filled with great warmth and excitement as we celebrated far in the distance but very close in prayer the ordinations of a good number of our brothers all over the world!
Starting from the continent of South America. On October 28 and November 3 of 2018, two of our brothers, Nelson Ris and Fabricio Jara, both belonging to the Diocese of San Roque in Argentina, received their diaconal ordination through the imposition of the hands of their bishop, Mons. Hugo Barbaro. Both have just finished their studies in Rome last school year (2017-2018) and they are currently serving as deacons in their respective pastoral assignments. Our best wishes for our Argentinian brothers!
Going to the warm continent of Africa, starting in Tanzania: Our brother Edwin Faraja, of the diocese of Rulenge-Ngara, received his sacerdotal ordination on December 2, 2018, from his bishop Mons. Severine Niwemugizi. Fr. Edwin was a seminarian of Sedes Sapientiae from 2014 to 2017. Also from Tanzania, our brother Patrick Joseph Wenga, was later ordained as deacon on December 6, 2018 in the Diocese of Kondoa, an ecclesiastical district built in recent times (2011) that it has about 57,000 faithful out of 528,000 inhabitants, mostly Muslims.
Going further south, on December 8, the feast day of the Immaculate Conception, our brother Richard Andrew Stonier, was received to the order of presbyters by his auxiliary bishop, Mons. Duncan Theodore Tsoke. Fr. Richard hails from the Archdiocese of Johannesburg in South Africa, a diocese of around 900,000 Catholics. Lastly from Ghana, we have our brother Albert Danso Kyei, who was ordained deacon on December 22, 2018 in his home diocese of Kumasi. For our brothers in Africa, we wish all the best as well!
Moving on to Asia. From Vietnam, we have our brothers Van Duc Nguyen and Giuseppe Maria Vy Tran, who both received their sacerdotal ordination through the imposition of the hands of their respective bishops in their dioceses. Fr. Van Duc who was ordained on November 24, 2018, and belongs to the Diocese of Vinh, where he is now serving. Fr. Giuseppe Maria Vy, instead was ordained last January 3, 2019, and is currently serving his Diocese, Buôn Ma Thuột, among his other tasks is to teach Latin in the Seminary.
From the rice fields of Vietnam, we now move on to the islands of the Philippines! There we have our brother from the Archdiocese of Cebu, Roderich Teriote. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Jose S. Palma last December 14, 2018. Fr. Roderich has been the seminary’s choir director from 2015 until 2018. He is now residing as a formator in their archdiocesan college seminary.
From the land of the rising sun, we have our brother from Japan Akira Kirishima! With great joy, he was received to the order of presbyters on December 29, 2018 by his bishop, Mons. Francis Xavier Hiroaki Nakano. Fr. Akira belongs to the Diocese of Kagoshima and is now pursuing his licentiate degree in Canon Law in the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross.
Finally, our joy and excitement would not be complete without us hearing from our brothers from India! Both hailing from the Syro-Malabar rite. First, we have the sacerdotal ordination of our brother, Jobin Edukkunel of the Archdiocese of Tellicherry, celebrated last December 26, 2018 in his home parish. Fr. Jobin is now serving the archdiocese under his archbishop, Mar George Njaralakatt. Shortly after, on December 29, 2018, our brother Jiso Thomas Kuttikatt of the Archdiocese of Trichur, received the presbyteral ordination from the hands of his archbishop, Mar Andrews Thazhath. The celebration was also made special by the presence of our rector, Fr Javier Canosa, who arrived in Kerala on December 27 for a brief five-day stay, invited by His Excellency the Archbishop of Trichur.
Again, to all our former brothers who are now priests and deacons, we wish you all the best in your ministry! Although you are miles away from us, we are always one with you as we express our great gratitude to our almighty God for this wondrous grace you have received!
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