By Purushottam Nayak –
Gopalpur-On-Sea: Four Vincentian priests ordained at the closure of Jubilee year December 29, 2025 at Gopalpur-On-Sea, Ganjam of Berhampur diocese of Odisha.
The ordination was presided over by Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur of Odisha and attended by more than 2000 faithful along with 35 religious nuns and above 100 priests.
Congregation of the Mission (CM), deacons Malaya Ranjan Nayak born January 1999 to Sipriayan and Asonta Nayak at Adva, of Aligonda Parish of Berhampur diocese. He lost his father when he was six months old baby.
“I am immensely glad and happy that despite my unworthiness God has called me to serve Him and His people joyfully. I am grateful and thankful to God ,” says Father Malaya Ranjan Nayak, the newly ordained priest.
He is the last of his four siblings. His Philosophy study was at Aquinas College in 2021.Theology from 2023 to 2025 in Pune Gyano Deep, Pune. Ordained December 29, 2025 at Gopalpur-On-Sea, Ganjam.
Deacon Rohan Kumar Nayak born April 24, 1999 to Batula and Ranjan Nayak at Adva of Aligonda Parish of Berhampur diocese. He is the last of four siblings. 2018 to 2021 Philosophy study at Aquinas College, Gopalpur-On-Sea. Theology from 2023 to 2025 in Pune Gyano Deep, Pune. Ordained December 29, 2025 at Gopalpur-On-Sea, Ganjam.
Deacon Raju Rimis Lakda born August 4, 1990 to Rimis and Imrinsiya at Etupali Parish of Chanda diocese of Maharastra. He is the last of four siblings. Philosophy from2018-2021 at Aquinas College, Gopalpur-On-Sea. Theology from 2022-2025 at Gyan Deepa, Pune. Ordained December 29, 2025.
Deacon Atul Mallick born May 20, 1989 to Rajib and Suchitra at Kalimala of Our Lady of Holy Rosary Parish, Daringbadi of Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar. He is the eldest of five siblings. After philosophy and theology he was ordained as deacon April 29, 2025. Ordained December 29, 2025 at Gopalpur-On- Sea, Ganjam.
“As we come to the close of the Jubilee Year 2025, our hearts are filled with gratitude to God for the many graces we have received during this sacred time. The Jubilee has been a year of renewal, reconciliation, and hope a reminder that God’s mercy is always greater than our weaknesses and that His love never fails. We are blessed with four new priests,” says Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhmapur, Southern part of Odisha , some 172 km away from the Capital City Bhubaneswar in his homily .
He continues to remind the congregation that throughout this year, we have been invited to walk as pilgrims of hope, opening our hearts to forgiveness, compassion, and solidarity with one another. We have been called to renew our faith, strengthen our commitment to justice and peace, and become living witnesses of God’s mercy in our families, schools, parishes, and communities.
Let us carry forward the lessons we have learned to trust more deeply in God, to serve others with generosity, and to live each day guided by hope and love.
Some of you are born in 1999 which has history of murder of Australian Graham Staines and his young sons, Philip and Timothy, tragically burnt alive in India by Hindu extremists an even event that shocked the world and highlighted missionary risks, and challenges
“Same threat, killing, murder of Christians, disrupting Christmas celebration and anti-Christian elements are clearly visible in the present situation but we have priests to work in the vineyard of Kingdom of God, affirms Bishop Nayak.
“The 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone caused immense loss, with around 10,000 deaths, devastating coastal districts, destroying homes, crops and infrastructure, and leading to massive economic damage and long-term health issues like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). God has still call to priesthood. He is a pastor, teacher, prophet and preacher. His role is to represent hope, renewal, and rebuilding of lives. As the year of Jubilee 2025 having theme of Pilgrims of hope invites us to keep moving forward despite challenges in Indian context,” continues the prelate.
“I am grateful to God for his call to my son Malaya who lost his father when he was 6 months old baby. It was God’s constant accompaniment and abundant blessings,” acknowledges Asonta Nayak, mother of new priest Asonta Nayak.
There are two provinces of congregation of the Mission in India. 154 priests are working in the Southern Indian Province consists of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharastra, Rajastan, Telengana, Nepla, Srilanka, Tanzania. 140 Priests are working in the Northern Indian Province of the Congregation of the Mission. There are 46 communities in Odisha, West-Bengal, Jharkhand, Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Arunanchal Pradesh, Mizoram. There are 80 CM Priests from Odisha.
There are 4800 CM priests in the world working in 76 provinces of 98 different countries.