Five Carmelites Ordained Deacons at Infant Jesus Shrine, Mangaluru
Infant Jesus Shrine, Bikarnakatte, resounded with joy, solemnity, and prayer on October 03, 2025, as the Carmelite family celebrated the ordination of five brothers to the sacred order of the diaconate. The solemn Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Most Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore, who conferred the sacred order on the five candidates, reminding them of their new mission of humble service, prayer, and pastoral charity.

The five newly ordained deacons are:
• Br. Alwyn D’Souza, son of Anthony and Alice D’Souza from Nirkan Parish.
• Br. Elston Monteiro, son of Elias and Lilly Monteiro from Eliarpadav Parish.
• Br. Stin George, son of M.G. Robert and the late Josephine from Suntikoppa Parish.
• Br. Loy Jackson Crasta, son of Marcel and Lucy Crasta from Bajjodi Parish.
• Br. Hilary Bodtol Rodrigues, son of the late Bodthol Rodrigues and Rosy Rodrigues from the Diocese of Karwar.

The Bishop, in his homily, highlighted the threefold spiritual pillars of the diaconal ministry: active in service (generosity in action), gentle in pastoral life (imitating Christ the servant), and steadfast in prayer (firm in spirit). These, he said, are not mere ideals but the daily path of a deacon, who must balance liturgical service, preaching of the Word, and pastoral outreach.

Quoting the words of Christ, “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant,” Bishop Peter Paul reminded the ordinandi that a deacon’s life is one of self-emptying love. “When you prepare the chalice at Mass,” he said, “remember that drinking the chalice is sharing in the death of Jesus. To proclaim the Gospel, to serve at the altar, and to attend to the pastoral needs of God’s people is to walk the path of surrender and sacrifice.”

The ordaining prelate also exhorted the candidates to remain vigilant against the temptations of the world - money, comfort, and pleasure - urging them instead to live with simplicity and focus on their Carmelite charism of prayer, fraternity, and service.

The liturgy was prayerfully animated by the Carmelite friars, with Rev. Fr Roshan Monteiro compering the sacred celebration. The event was graced by several distinguished Carmelite leaders: Rev. Fr Archibald Gonsalves, OCD, Vice Provincial, Rev. Fr Pius James D’Souza, OCD, General Definitor, Rev. Fr Philbert Namphande, OCD, General Definitor, and Rev. Fr Rajesh Rosario, Rector of St. Joseph’s Seminary, Jeppu. Their presence underlined the wider Carmelite family’s support and fraternity for the new deacons.

After the Eucharistic celebration, a short felicitation program was held at the Infant Jesus Hall. The newly ordained deacons were warmly congratulated by their confreres, family members, and well-wishers. Rev. Fr Stifan Perera, OCD, Director of the Shrine, compered the cultural felicitation, where gratitude was expressed to the Bishop, formators, and the families of the ordinandi for nurturing their vocations.