Fr. Elvis Fernandes, SFX –
Goa: Ten Scholastics, belonging to the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier, (Society of Pilar), were ordained deacons on the 2nd of October 2022 by His Eminence Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao, Archbishop of Goa and Daman. The rite of the diaconate ordination was held in the chapel of the Mission Seminary, Pilar.
His Eminence was visiting Pilar for the first time after being appointed as Cardinal by Pope Francis during the consistory held on the 27 of August 2022.
He was led by a motorcade from the Pilar junction to the Pilar Hillock. He was welcomed by V. Rev. Fr. Nazareth Fernandes, the Superior General of the Society of Pilar, priests, seminarians and people. Shobhit D. Saxena, Superintendent of Police, North Goa was also present to welcome His Eminence.
A brief felicitation ceremony was held in the Chapel of the Mission Seminary preceding the Eucharist celebration. The Superior General in his felicitation speech congratulated His Eminence and said that the Society of Pilar rejoices at the elevation of His eminence to the Cardinalate, a recognition of the immense contribution of the Archdiocese of Goa for centuries is now being recognised by the Universal Church. He further said that the Society of Pilar shares a special bond with the Archdiocese of Goa right from its foundation in 1887. The Superior General presented His eminence a shawl and a Wooden Art as a token of congratulations.
At the Eucharist, His Eminence said that the ten scholastics are receiving a precious gift of the diaconate, whereby they accept the responsibility to continue the mission of humble, joyful, selfless and caring service made present in the world by Jesus. In his homily, His Eminence 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 and enabled her not only to grow in holiness but to become a missionary even by remaining within the four walls of her room in the convent.
The Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier, popularly known as Society of Pilar, was founded in 1887 in Goa. It is an Indigenous Society and works in 31 dioceses in India and 9 dioceses abroad. The ten deacons hail from different 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.
Speaking on the occasion, Rev. Fr. Joseph Fernandes, the Central Delegate Superior sfx, thanked His eminence, Filipe Neri Cardinal Ferrao, for presiding over the Diaconate Ordination. He also thanked Fr. Peter Melo Fernandes sfx, the Rector of the All India Mission Seminary and all the seminary educators for their contribution towards the growth and development of the deacons. He expressed his gratitude to the parents of the deacons, Benefactors, the respective diocesan Bishops and Parish Priests. Deacon Salten Monteiro and Deacon Johnson expressed sentiments of Gratitude on behalf of all the deacons.