India: Bishop Simião Fernandes ordains two Pilar Scholastics as Deacons, calls them to be “Witnesses of Hope in Loving Service”

Bishop Simião Fernandes, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, ordained Scholastic Rajat Singh SFX and Scholastic Mantheosha Fernandes SFX of the Society of Pilar as deacons during a solemn Eucharistic celebration at the Seminary Chapel of the All India Mission Seminary, Pilar, on October 4, 2025.

Bishop Fernandes presided over the Eucharistic celebration, concelebrated by Fr. Norman Almeida SFX, Rector of the All India Mission Seminary, Pilar; Fr. Steevan D’Souza SFX; Fr. Joaquim Rebelo SFX, Provincial Superior of the Goa Province of the Society of Pilar; and several other priests.

Preaching on the theme “Witnesses of Hope in Loving Service,” Bishop Fernandes invited the ordinands to embrace their vocation wholeheartedly. “To be witnesses of hope, we must give up everything for loving service,” he said.

Reflecting on the parable of the Good Samaritan and the Gospel account of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples, the bishop explained four essential dimensions of loving service:

Timeless: He said loving service cannot be restricted to fixed hours or special occasions but must be given at all times. “Service has no timetable,” he reminded.

Other-centered: He emphasized that true service shifts attention away from oneself to others, citing the Good Samaritan who cared for the wounded man and Jesus who, at the Last Supper, placed His Apostles before Himself.

Self-sacrificial: He noted that loving service involves sacrifice, as seen in the Samaritan who gave his time, effort, and resources, and in Jesus who laid aside His garment of authority to take on the role of a servant. “Only when we are ready to say ‘no’ to many things, trials, and tribulations can we truly be witnesses of hope,” the bishop said.

Inclusive: He highlighted that authentic service excludes no one, recalling that the Good Samaritan did not look at caste, race, or religion, and that Jesus washed the feet of all His Apostles, even those who would deny or betray Him.

Placing the ordination in the wider context of the Jubilee Year 2025 and the ongoing Synodal journey, Bishop Fernandes recalled Pope Francis’s Bull of Indiction Spes non Confundit (Hope Does Not Disappoint), which urges Christians to reach out to those on the margins. “We are called to be tangible signs of hope for prisoners, families, the sick and elderly, persons with disabilities, migrants, the poor, and young people caught in abuses,” he added.

The ordination coincided with the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Referring to the saint’s radical witness, Bishop Fernandes said, “St. Francis, though born into wealth, gave up everything for God, for humanity, and for creation. He remains a shining example of loving service that is simple, humble, and filled with hope.”

Fr. Valroy D’Melo SFX served as the liturgical commentator, while Fr. John Bennet SFX animated the liturgy. Scholastic Markus Tudu from the Diocese of Dumka welcomed all. Fr. Elvis Fernandes SFX led the liturgical singing. Fr. Steevan D’Souza SFX, Vicar General of the Society of Pilar, addressed the gathering, and newly ordained Deacon Rajat Singh SFX expressed words of gratitude.

(Br. John Malvino Alfonso, OCD, is a member of the Karnataka-Goa Province of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, based at Avila Jyothi, Mapusa, Goa, India.)