India: 33 seminarians ordained to Diaconate

Diaconal ordination of 33 seminarians from Vidyajyoti, Delhi

Delhi Metropolitan Archbishop Anil Couto ordained 33 third-year theology students from Vidyajyoti, Delhi as deacons on Saturday, 26 February. The theme of the solemn Eucharist, celebrated at the Millennium Hall of St Xavier's School, Delhi, was "to heal and reconcile in Christ".

Archbishop Anil told the newly ordained deacons that they must be gentle in their pastoral work and pray constantly. He reminded them of their mission to assist the priests and bishops at the Altar, to proclaim the Gospel, and to accompany the faithful in their spiritual experience.

The Archbishop went on to encourage the deacons to serve with humility. He reminded them of the teachings of Lumen Gentium, which says that the diaconate is "for service."

Service with humility is the way to defeat the scourge of clericalism.

The ceremony was broadcast online, because of Covid safety measures, so that relatives of the new deacons could watch it from their homes. The Mass was restricted to the community of Vidyajyoti and their Jesuit friends in the City.

Drawing from the reflection of a fellow Jesuit, Daniel Madigan, Joseph Victor Edwin SJ, one of the teachers at Vidyajyoti, said: "Pope Paul VI envisioned the Church as a community of peoples that is in dialogue with all. He envisaged a Christian Community that is neither above nor marginal to nor radically separated from the world. It is immersed in the world- not static but always a pilgrim- placed by God at the heart of a world that God loves, in order to be an instrument through which God continues a millennia-long dialogue with human beings. Pope Paul VI's vision continues to challenge us in our times: times of wars and divisions."