PERPETUAL VOWS AND ORDINATION TO DIACONATE AT DIVINE WORD SEMINARY, PUNE

We, the Confreres of the Society of the Divine Word are preparing ourselves for the 19th General Chapter with the theme, “Your Light Must Shine Before Others: Faithful and Creative Disciples in a Wounded World” Adding more meaning to this theme, nine of the confreres of the Divine Word Seminary, Pune professed their Perpetual Vows on 2nd of January 2024 under the theme ‘Your Light Must Shine Before Others’ and were ordained as deacons on the following day. The ceremony of the Perpetual Vows began in front of the Founder’s grotto in prayer, followed by the procession towards the Chapel in the seminary. Fr. Tomy Thomas SVD, the Provincial Superior of INM Province was the main celebrant and accepted the Perpetual Vows of brothers in the presence of the community.

On the following day, the ceremony of the diaconate was set out from Mother Mary’s grotto in prayer and veneration. Most Rev. John Rodrigues, Bishop of Poona ordained them as deacons during the Holy Eucharist and in the presence of people of God. Then, he graced the occasion by breaking the Word of God relevantly by explaining the ways through which they could become faithful and creative disciples in a wounded world. The meaningful liturgy and melodious singing created a prayerful atmosphere throughout the celebrations. In line with the aspect of Interculturality, the hymns for the Perpetual Vows and Ordination to the Diaconate were chosen from different languages.   The deacons were felicitated by the DWS community. It was indeed a show of blessing of God that the DWS community could have SVD confreres, priests, religious, Disciples of the Divine Word, well-wishers, parents, and relatives of the brothers to witness these grace-filled occasions. All the newly professed members thanked the staff, students and domestic workers for their commendable efforts to make the occasions memorable. One of the deacons expressed, “The accompaniment of the formators, fellowship of the brothers, generosity of the benefactors, prayers of the dear ones brought God’s blessings and graces upon us to become faithful and creative disciples in this wounded world.”