By ANS-Rome

Gerini, Rome. May 10, 2015 - In this Year of the Conserated Life, the 24 confreres (students of Theology) from various countries had received their Lectorate (12 confreres) and Acolyte (12 confreres) Ministries in the parish Church of the Sacred Heart in Ponte Mammolo, Rome.

Usually the minor ordinations are done within the Salesian community compound. But this time, the minor ordinations were witnessed also by the local parishioners during their last Sunday Mass of the evening. At the start of that Mass, the Parish Priest highlighted that the consecrated life is part of the life of the Church, and so during this Year of the Consecrated Life, opportunity was given for the parish community to witness the minor ordination rites. The Superior of the Vice Province of UPS, Fr Eugenio Riva, SDB presided the Mass with the Rector of the Namuncura Community - Fr Stefan Turansky, SDB and the local parish priest as main concelebrants.

The Blessed Namuncura Salesian Community in Gerini is also an International community of Salesian students of theology studying at the Salesian Pontifical University. Yesterday, among those 24 ordained to minor orders, two confreres from EAO were part of the ceremonies. Br John Baptist Lou San from Hong Kong, who had his novitiate in Cebu, received the ministry of Acolyte. And Br Cesar da Costa from Baucau, East Timor who lived his novitiate in Fatumaka, received the ministry of Lector.