PANJIM: Most Rev Filipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop of Goa and Daman ordained two new priests Malcolm Barreto and Shawn D’Souza at the Basilica of Bom Jesus Old Goa on Saturday.
Both Malcolm and Shawn chose “walking with Christ, to set hearts on fire,” as their theme for the Saturday liturgy.
Malcolm hails from Borda while Shawn is from Saligao. The Basilica was almost full, with people even coming all the way from Delhi, to attend the ordination. They said they came down to Goa to show their love and affection for the Malcolm and Shawn who had worked in their areas during their preparatory days.
The Basilica was closed for the tourists and visitors during the ordination ceremony.
The gospel for the day was taken from Luke chapter 24 versus 13 to 35. In his homily, archbishop Ferrao, called the newly ordained to keep the Spirit of the Lord which the God has anointed them, like Prophet Isaiah and bring the good news to the poor and bind their hearts that are broken. He also exhorted them to be a witness to the sufferings of Christ and like St Peter who was entrusted with looking after the flock, to do the service gladly. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, the Archbishop told the two young priests to be faithful to His teachings, through their commitment to Goa, be dedicated to their personal prayer, and always be ready to serve the society and the faithful.
The Provincial Goa Jesuits Fr Rolland Coelho, thanked the Archbishop, the parents of Malcolm and Shawn for sacrificing their sons to the Society of Jesus and exhorted the faithful to pray for more vocations to the priesthood.
Fr Malcolm, in the name of Fr Shawn, thanked everyone for the role they played in their formative years, their parents for sacrificing them to the Society of Jesus, all those who helped in the ceremony, the rector of the Basilica, the volunteers and all the faithful who gathered to pray for them. Malcolm praised the choir for their delightful rendering of the songs. He pleaded faithful to keep them in their prayers as they start their mission to serve Christ and the Society.
Fr Joe Rodrigues and his choir kept the faithful in devotion and piety with their lovely songs rendered in four voices. The songs in Latin were pleasant and left the laity in awe.
All who attended the ordination were served lunch on the ground floor quadrangle of the Basilica.
