The Eight Deacons Ashley Stephen, Antro Belevandiran, Arockiadoss Antonisamy, John Bosco, Joseph Raj, Robert William, Sebastian Vijayan, Siluvai Adimai were ordained as priests on 29 December 2019. Most Reverend Antony Pappusamy, Archbishop of Madurai Diocese, ordained them.
Father Agilan Sarprasadam, the Provincial Elect of the Salesian province of Tiruchy welcomed the Bishop and the gathering and presented the candidates to the Bishop for the ordination.
The former provincials of INT and INM Provinces, representatives from Becchi Theologate Chennai, Kristu Jyoti College, Bangalore, and around 150 priests, religious and collaborators were present to celebrate this great event. The ordination ceremony was coordinated by Father Amaladoss the Province Economer. Lourdes Shrine, Madurai Salesian community made the event grand and hospitable to all those who stepped in for the celebration. The parents and relatives of the new priests and the parishioners of the shrine with overwhelming hearts, thanked the Good Lord as they witnessed these eight men committing themselves to be Priests for Christ and His folk.
During this occasion, the second edition of ‘Irai Alaigal,’ a compilation of Christian devotional Tamil hymns, consisting one thousand seven hundred and fifty hymns, was released by Most. Rev. Antony Pappusamy, Archbishop of Madurai. Fr. Antonisamy, the new priest received the first copy. Fr. Agilan Sarprasadam, the provincial elect, is the author of this great work.
