Vatican City: An Indian was among 19 deacons Pope Francis ordained on Sunday in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican.
One
of the newly ordained was Fr Sony George Kappalumackal of Thamarassery
diocese in Kerala. “I feel like experiencing the inexplicable mercy of
God,” Fr Kappalumackal told Vatican Radio prior to the ordination.
He came to Rome five years ago to study theology at International
Pontifical College Maria Mater Ecclesiae. For the ordination his parents
traveled from Panthalur in the Malappuram district of Kerala.
During the ordination Mass, the Pope digressed from the standard
homily for the ordination of priests to offer advice to the newly
ordained.
The 78-year-old pontiff said priests should nourish God’s people with their homilies, while making sure they are not bored.
Ensure “that your homilies are not boring; that your homilies reach
the heart of the people, because they come from your hearts,” he said.
“What you say to them is what you have in your heart.”
The Pope said priests should ensure they always forgive rather than
condemn, and described them as ‘ministers of unity in the Church.’
He also said priests should ‘never refuse Baptism to whoever asks for it.’
In his words of advice to the newly ordained priests, the Pope also
said they must not offer God’s Word without giving a good example.
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