ORDINATIONS IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS
As the pandemic spread around the world, news of the ordinations of former students of Sedes Sapientiae have been signs of hope: nine in all, three new deacons and six new priests, now serve the People of God in their dioceses with the enthusiasm and joy of youth. Let us review who the new clergy are, starting with the most recently ordained.
Vietnam is one of the countries in the world where the measures against Covid-19 have been quickest and most effective. That is why the deaconal ordination of Van Cao Nguyen could be celebrated in the cathedral of Hanoi, his archdiocese, on 1 June. Nine other candidates were ordained with him.
A few days earlier, on May 19, also in Vietnam and also with a multitudinous presence of the faithful, was the priestly ordination of Van Tiep Vu, of the diocese of Ban Me Tuot. Ten new priests received the sacrament of Holy Orders, serving the almost half a million faithful of the diocese.
From Vietnam to the United States. In this country, on May 16, while the coronavirus was spreading massively throughout the country, was the priestly ordination of Melvin Mangalath Paul, former seminarian of the Sedes Sapientiae which belongs to the Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle, with jurisdiction for all Catholics of the Syro-Malabar rite in the United States. On this occasion, only the parents of Melvin, his sister and her fiancé were able to participate in the ceremony, which was however broadcast on social networks with great public following.
Let us go a little south as we go back in time: on March 19, Ceferino Carmona Espinosa was ordained priest in Tabasco, by his Bishop S. E. Mgr Gerardo de Jesus Rojas. Then, Ceferino joined the parish of St. Anthony of Padua in his diocese, from where he has tried to attend to the faithful in various ways during his confinement.
In Tanzania, two former students of Sedes received the diaconate in the first, still peaceful, steps of this year 2020: they were Joackin Makaya, from the diocese of Musoma, on February 20; and Petroimani Mshana, from the diocese of Same, on January 7. Many congratulations to both of them, who are working intensely in the diocesan pastoral.
In Brazil, Johnny Silva Borges was ordained priest on 2 February 2020 by the new Bishop of Bonfim, H.E. Mgr. Hernaldo Pinto Farias. Best wishes for his pastoral work in that diocese which has 510,000 Catholic inhabitants distributed over a territory of 33,747 km² and served by 39 priests.
Finally, last but not least, on January 2 two alunni from Sedes were ordained priests in India: Frijo Tharayil (from the diocese of Faridabab) and Tom Malaickal (from the diocese of Changanacherry). The diocese of Frijo is in New Delhi, while Tom's is in the more Catholic region of Kerala.
We congratulate all the new priests and deacons and assure them of our prayers. In the link below you can see some pictures of the ordinations.
Photo Gallery here -> Galleria Fotografica
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