By Cl. Jose Felimar B Valenzuela, SDB

       Parañaque City, Philippines, 30 July 2022--Blessing poured forth from heaven as the strong rains failed to dampen the spirits of the Salesians of Don Bosco, religious men and women, young people, and the faithful who flocked to the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians.

       The blessed event was the Ordination to the Diaconate of Salesian Cls. Filomeno Martins Belo (ITM), Joseph Labya Mai Li (MYM), and David Yan Nai Aung (MYM).

       The Bishop of Parañaque, Most Rev. Jesse Mercado was the ordaining prelate and main celebrant at the Holy Mass.

       Fr. Gerardo Martin, FIN Provincial, Fr. Leo Mang, Vice-Provincial of Myanmar Vice Province, and Fr. Apolinario Maria Ornai Neto, former Provincial of the Vice-Province of East Timor concelebrated the Mass along with other priests.

       The Facebook Pages of the Salesians in the Philippines, East Timor, and Myanmar live-streamed the event.

       In his homily, Bishop Mercado reminded the newly ordained deacons to be foot washers like Jesus, to render service to everyone. The path of service asks them to be companions of the Lord as men of prayer, to be participants in the lives of people as one who serves, and to be one who ensures that people meet and celebrate God as men of the sacraments, servants of the Word, and of the Altar.

       He also shared that the secret to service is founded on one’s capacity to love. He ended with his prayer for the three new deacons: “In omnibus amare, in omnibus servire, In omnibus amare et servire Deo.”

       In line with their theme and Scripture passage from 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you,” Rev Joseph delivered the message from the newly ordained, giving thanks to God for the many graces they received throughout their formation years in their Salesian vocation.

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