Instructing the acolytes, Archbishop Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrão, quoting the story of Saint Damien from Belgium, said, “He was the ideal model of service as he left the comfort of his home and country to live among sick people suffering from leprosy and served them till his death. Thus, answering the call of the Good Shepherd, himself exercising the real Diakonia, proclaiming the Word of God to them and giving hope to the lepers who were living in the hopeless situation. He revived their faith and celebrated the Eucharist and the sacraments for them. He was their friend, their priest, counselor, guide, their nurse, and doctor. He loved them so much so much so that after a few years he would say we the lepers. This is what you are called to do as the readings of today also speak of service in the Lord.” He exhorted the clerics to model their life of service and ministry on the saints of the land, namely Saint Joseph Vaz, Saint Francis Xavier, and our father and teacher Saint Don Bosco, as they live out their ministry of service from this day on.

Provincial Father Clive Telles thanked the parents and family members of the Deacons for giving their sons to the Church to serve as priests in the Salesian Congregation of Saint John Bosco. He said, “We are indeed rejoicing as this year we have six deacons ordained and one step closer to the order of Melchizedek” and appealed to the congregation to continue to accompany them with their prayers as they prepare for their Priestly ordination.

Clerics Savio, Sheldon, and Infancio are from the State of Goa while Cleric Royal is from the state of Karnataka. They completed their theological studies at Jnana Deepa Institute of Pontifical Studies, Pune.