India: 33 Deacons ordained

Thirty three Jesuit Scholastics of the Vidyajyoti College of Theology from 13 Jesuit Provinces of South Asia were ordained Deacons on Saturday, 24 February by Archbishop Anil JT Couto at the Millennium Hall, St Xavier's School, Delhi. The men who were ordained chose "prophetic shepherds for transformation" as their theme for the Eucharistic liturgy.

The principal concelebrants were Fr Michael T Raj SJ, the rector of Vidyajyoti Jesuit Faculty who presented the candidates to the Archbishop and Fr PR John SJ, the principal of Vidyajyoti College of Theology.

The Archbishop, who is also a visiting professor at Vidyajyoti, in his homily reminded the candidates of the giftedness and the demands of their vocation. He encouraged them to give themselves fully to the mission they are called.

"While the choir sang the litany of saints the deacons prostrated before the altar. I felt deeply moved to pray for many such wonderful vocations to serve the mother Church", remarked Mr Vinay Kullu a friend of one of the newly ordained deacons.