Kolkata, India. On November 3, 2023, a solemn and spiritually enriching ceremony was held at Claret Nivas in Barrackpore, Kolkata, where two Claretian students and two Fransalian students were ordained to the Order of Deacons. The Claretian students who were ordained are Judeson Abinesh A., CMF, from the Kolkata Independent Delegation, and Daniel A., CMF, from the Province of Chennai.
His Grace Thomas D’Souza, the Archbishop of Kolkata, led the ordination ceremony and bestowed the Sacred Order of Diaconate upon the candidates. In his message to the newly ordained deacons, he emphasized the great significance of the deacon’s role within the Church and society. He conveyed that being a Deacon is a calling to dedicate one’s life to humble service and ministry, which aligns with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of esteemed guests, including Fr. Johnson Gonzalvis, MSFS, the Provincial of the Province of Pune of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales; Fr. Anim Prakash Indwar, CMF, the Prefect of Apostolate and Delegate of the Major Superior of Kolkata Independent Delegation; and Fr. Stanilaus S., CMF, the Prefect of Apostolate of the Province of Chennai. In addition, the celebration was made even more joyful by the attendance of many religious priests, sisters, guests, and well-wishers. This reflects the strong sense of community and support within the Catholic faith.
Diaconal Ordination of Three Students in the Province of Colombia-Venezuela
The following day, 4 November 2023, the Claretian Missionaries of the Province of Colombia-Venezuela were filled with joy as they witnessed the diaconal ordination of three students during an important celebration marking the centenary of the Claretian presence in Venezuela and the 175th anniversary of the foundation of the Congregation.
The ordination ceremony unfolded in the San Antonio María Claret parish in Los Dos Caminos, Caracas, Venezuela. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by the esteemed Monsignor Juan Carlos Bravo Salazar, Bishop of the Diocese of Petare, who blessed the candidates and marked this significant step in their journey of faith.
The three newly ordained Claretian deacons, Cleiber Jose Flores, Nelson de Jesús Carrero, and Berman Alejandro Ramos, were surrounded by the warm embrace of their families, friends, fellow religious men and women, diocesan clergy, and the presence of Claretians hailing from the Central and Eastern regions.
