The Servants of Charity

Seven New Priests in India

“IT IS GOD WHO DOES”

In the evening June 23rd, St. Joseph’s Seminary, Cuddalore, India, celebrated the memorable event of Priestly Ordination. Seven deacons, Joseph Peter, David Jaya Raj, James Stanley Babu, C. John Paul Britto, A. Louis Baskar, A. Periyanayagasamy and M. Praveen Jebakumar were consecrated by Most Rev. Bishop Antony Anandarayar, ArchBishop of the Pondy- Cuddalore Diocese. Many of the Guanellian Priests in India were ordained by him in the very same place. Fr. Alfonso Crippa, Superior General of the Servants of Charity, represented the whole congregation and expressed his joy to be present in India for the event.

More than 800 people including 80 Diocesan and religious priests and sisters, parents, relatives and friends of the newly ordained supported the gathering with simple and sincere prayers. Fr. Louis, religious Episcopal Vicar of the Diocese of Pondy – Cuddalore, shared some of his thoughts with the newly ordained during the sermon, “It is important to be holy in the Church. But you should be doubly holy to be a successor of Fr. Louis Guanella.”

"The Charity of Christ has gathered us together..." these words became true, when confreres welcomed them with the hugs and kisses. We assure to accompany these seven new priests to the altar of the Lord with fraternal love and prayers, so that they may be truly and forever “Living Gospels of Christ.” These seven new priests, are certainly the treasures of the Divine Providence Province. It is an apt moment to offer thanksgiving to the Lord for the special grace of Fr. Guanella’s canonization. May the example of our holy Founder inspire their life and ministry in the Church and in the world, where people are in urgent need of seeing more and more credible and holy witnesses of the Gospel. To all of them, our prayerful wishes and congratulations.