By Fr. Roel Soto, SDB
Chennai, India, December 8, 2015 - With love and gratitude to God who calls him To be all things to all people and serve the Lord with holy joy Dcn. Arun Michael Charles, SDB, a missionary of the Delegation of Cambodia, accompanied by his parents, Mr & Mrs Thomas Charles, approached the altar of the Cathedral - the National Shrine of St. Thomas Basilica at Santhome, Mylapore, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India for his sacerdotal ordination.
His Grace Most Rev. Chinnappa Malayappan SDB D.D., Archbishop Emeritus of Madras-Mylapore ordained him on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 8th of December 2015 at 10:30 a.m. assisted by Fr. Raphael Jayapalan, SDB, Provincial Superior of Chennai, Fr. Roel Soto, SDB, the Superior Delegate of Cambodia, other 30 concelebrating priests, and in the presence of 300 relatives, friends and guests. His grace invited Rev. Arun Michael Charles to be a true evangelizer marked by a holy life - the sign of authentic witnessing in his missionary life.
A simple and familial reception immediately followed the Ordination Mass at the Hall of St. Bede’s Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, his alma mater, which is adjacent to the Cathedral.
Fr. Michael Arun Charles celebrated his First Mass of Thanksgiving the following day Wednesday, 9th of December 2015 at 10:30 am in his native parish, St. Anthony’s Parish at Alandur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. He will resume his mission work in Cambodia on January 8, 2016.
