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India Subzone Offers 17 New Deacons as a Precious Jubilee Gift
Anthony Swamy
This significant event comes at a time when the Universal Church celebrates the Jubilee Year and the Divine Word Missionaries commemorate 150 years of their founding, making the ordinations even more meaningful and symbolic.
The first ordination ceremony was held on April 3, 2025, at Divine Word Seminary (DWS), Pune, where 12 SVD brothers were ordained as deacons. The solemn celebration began with a procession from St. Arnold’s Grotto to the seminary chapel, invoking the blessings of the founder of the Society of the Divine Word, St. Arnold Janssen. The Most Rev. Malcolm Sequeira, Bishop of Amaravati, presided over the diaconate ordination Mass, which commenced at 10:30 AM.
Two days later, on April 5, 2025, five more SVD brothers received the Sacrament of Holy Orders in the form of the diaconate at Divya Jyoti Seminary, Sason, in Odisha. The liturgy was led by the Most Rev. Niranjan Sualsingh, Bishop of Sambalpur, and began at 9:30 AM.
The ceremonies were graced by the presence of several eminent SVD leaders, clergy, and lay partners. Among those in attendance at the Pune celebration were Fr. Ignatius Santhuraja, SVD, Provincial Superior of INH, Fr. Tommy, SVD, Provincial Superior of INM, Fr. Saveri Rayan, SVD, Secretary of the Formation Board, Indo-Bangla Subzone.
In Divya Jyothy, Odisha, the ceremony at Sason witnessed the attendance of Fr. Anuranjan Bilung, SVD, Provincial Superior of INE, Fr. Ignatius Santhuraja, SVD, Provincial Superior of INH, Fr. Jeevan Kennedy, SVD, Regional Superior of ING, Fr. Luvis Ronald Perreira, SVD, National Mission Secretary
Their presence underscored the significance of this diaconate ordination not just for the respective seminaries but for the entire SVD mission in India and Bangladesh.
Welcoming the congregation in Pune, Fr. Jesuraj Rayappan, SVD, Rector of Divine Word Seminary, expressed joy and gratitude for the ordination of the 12 brothers, acknowledging their commitment to the SVD mission. During the Eucharistic celebration, Fr. Ignatius Santhuraja delivered an inspiring introduction, calling the deacons to embrace the universal mission of the Society of the Divine Word and to be “missionaries to the ends of the earth.”
In his homily, Bishop Malcolm Sequeira described the newly ordained deacons as a “precious Jubilee gift” from the Indo-Bangla Subzone, aligning with the global celebrations of both the Universal Church’s Jubilee Year and the 150th anniversary of the Divine Word Missionaries.
“The deacon is called to be a witness—just as St. Arnold Janssen was—a witness to the Light,” said Bishop Sequeira. He further emphasized that the light of Christ should shine through their lives as the light of love, the light of service, the light of forgiveness, the light of compassion, and above all, the light that reaches out to the poor and the marginalized.
He reminded the deacons of their calling to continue the legacy of St. Arnold Janssen, the founder of the Divine Word Missionaries, by being beacons of hope and instruments of divine love wherever they are sent.
Bishop Niranjan Sualsigh during the homily at Sasan said that to be a deacon is not merely to wear a stole or stand at the altar. It is a call — a sacred call — to become the very hands and heart of Christ in this world. And that call is rooted in humility, service, and love. Service is not something extra to your vocation—it is the very heart of it. As deacons, you are called to serve at the altar, yes, but also at the table of the poor. Every act of kindness, every visit to the sick, every word of comfort to the grieving is a liturgy in itself—a holy offering to the Lord.
Fr. Anuranjan Bilung the Provincial Superior of INE appeal to he newly ordained deacons that Humility is the foundation of your ministry. Christ Himself, though He was divine, emptied Himself and took the form of a servant. You are not being raised above others today; you are being brought deeper into the mystery of Christ’s self-giving. Let your ministry never be about recognition, but about surrender.
The ordination of these 17 (12 in Pune and 5 in Sason) brothers marks a significant step in their spiritual journey toward priesthood and missionary life. As deacons, they now take on the role of proclaiming the Gospel, assisting at the altar, and performing acts of charity, all while preparing themselves more deeply for their priestly ordination.
This joyous event not only strengthens the Indo-Bangla Subzone but also reaffirms the commitment of the Divine Word Missionaries to continue nurturing faith, fostering vocations, and serving humanity across the globe.
