2110 Deacons ordained
austraLasia #2110

Crop of EAO and SA Deacons ordained in Manila

MANILA: 28th March 2008 --
On the afternoon of 27th March  at 3 pm, in the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, former Salesian Bishop Broderick Pabilo, once rector of Seminaryo ng Don Bosco, now Auxiliary Bishop of Manila ordained 6 Salesian deacons: Elias De Deus (ITM- Timorese),Tomas De Carvalho (ITM-Timorese), Aquiles Soares (ITM-Timorese), Catur Raharjo (ITM-Indonesian), Ferdinandus Reo (ITM-Indonesian) and Sujith Jayakodi (LKC). A crowd of about 400+ gathered for this event a good number of whom are young people from the different Don Bosco presences. The aspirants and prenovices of Canlubang led the music and the singing. Refreshments were served after the celebration at the Seminaryo. The Vice Provincial, Fr. Danilo Torres, was present along with many SDB and non-SDBs. These deacons will commence their fourth year of theological studies at DBCS this coming school year 2008-2009.
    While their various Salesian representatives in Rome (Frs Andres Calleja and Andre Delimarta ITM, Frs Anthony Pinto, Anthony Fernando LKC and Frs Andrew Wong, Martin Macasaet FIN) are discussing important matters of state, the ordination of 6 fine young men helps provide balance and a reminder of what everyone is really in Rome for - the 'da mihi animas' of daily life back home.  Sujith, from Sri Lanka, is now the fourth deacon from that country studying at S ng DB.  Three others, Deacons Roshan Miranda, Niroshan Gallege and Ruwantha Thirimane return home today having completed their theology. They will prepare for their priestly ordination in due course, back home.  Sujith, who began his final years of study at the Seminaryo, had to return home after his first year of theology studies to take up the post of school principal for a year!  He filled the role until another could be found then returned for his studies.
    Elias and Ferdinandus, from Timor and Indonesia respectively, have their own stories to tell of the 'hound of heaven' who pursued them down 'the labyrinthine ways'.*  Both spent a time away from the Salesians, but love for this vocation drew them gently back.  Elias was a barber - still is. He renders this service at Seminaryo and often recounts how, when Fr Wong was his provincial in ITM, he would make his 'rendiconto' with razor in hand!
    It reminds one of the joke - can't help telling it.
    A priest goes into a barber's shop, gets a haircut, thanks the barber and asks him how much it was.
    'Sorry Father, can't charge a man of the cloth.  It's free for you'.
    Next day, to his surprise, the barber finds 12 gold coins on the doorstep of the babershop.
    That day a Buddhist monk comes in for a shave and a shine. Again a similar story - 'You're a spiritual leader, I couldn't charge you.  It's free'.
    Next day 12 rubies appear on the doorstep.
    The third day a Rabbi comes in for a beard trim.  By this stage the barber thinks he is on a good wicket. 'Rabi, I couldn't take money from a wise and learned man, a man of peace'.
    Later that day - 12 Rabbis appeared on the doorstep.

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* From Francis Thompson's 'The Hound of Heaven':
I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind;
and in the mist of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
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More GC26 news later today - Regionals!
  _________________
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Title: australasia 2110
Subject and key words: EAO General, SDB General GC26 Regionals
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2110