By Elvis Fernandes
Pilar, Oct 3, 2022: Cardinal Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao, Archbishop of Goa and Daman, has ordained ten Society of Pilar seminarians as deacons.
The rite of the diaconate ordination was held October 2 in the seminary’s chapel in Pilar, the headquarters of the congregation, officially known as the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier.
It was the prelate’s first visit to Pilar after he was elevated as a cardinal on August 27.
He was led by a motorcade from the Pilar Junction to the Pilar Hillock. He was welcomed by Father Nazareth Fernandes, the congregation’s superior general, priests, seminarians and people. Shobhit D. Saxena, Superintendent of Police, North Goa was also present to welcome the cardinal.
The superior general in his felicitation speech congratulated the cardinal and said the Society of Pilar rejoices at his elevation, a recognition of the Archdiocese of Goa’s centuries-old immense contribution to the Universal Church. He also said his congregation shares a special bond with the archdiocese right from its foundation in 1887.
The superior general presented the cardinal a shawl and a wooden art as a token of congratulations.
During Mass, the cardinal said the ten receiving the precious gift of the diaconate accept their responsibility to continue the mission of humble, joyful, selfless and caring service made present in the world by Jesus.
In his homily, the prelate called upon the ten young men to be rooted in Jesus just like St. Teresa of Child Jesus who lived her life rooted in Jesus and with an attitude of total surrender to God that enabled her not only to grow in holiness but to become a missionary even by remaining within the four walls of her convent room.
The Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier was founded in 1887 in Goa. It is an indigenous congregation that serves 31 dioceses in India and nine overseas.
The ten deacons hail from various parts of India – Alton Abranches, Velroy De Melo, Baltazar Fernandes, Salten Monteiro, Agustinho Baretto and Jovito Vaz from Goa; Rohan D’Souza and Rolson D’Souza from Mangalore, Johnson M. from Tamil Nadu; and Christopher Joseph from Delhi.