Seventeen students of theology from St. Joseph’s Regional Seminary, Allahabad belonging to the various dioceses of North India stepped up to the altar of St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Allahabad and pledged their total commitment to the Lord during a solemn Eucharistic Celebration as they were ordained deacons by Rt. Rev. Dr. Raphy Manjaly, the Bishop of the Diocese of Allahabad on Sunday, 9^th August 2015 at 9.30 am.

The Seminarians who were ordained as deacons are: Amal Raj (Meerut), Bharti Kumar Sanjay (Varanasi), Coth Arun (Lucknow), D’Souza Melwin Maxim (Jaipur), D’Souza Naveen (Bareilly), Francis Sanjay (Meerut), Gonsalves Stephen (Meerut), Kullu Prakash Samir (Lucknow), Kumar Sunil (Bareilly), Ladella Joseph Prakash (Jhansi), Melvin Robin (Meerut), Mendonca Henry (Bareilly), Preas Antony (Agra), Rathore Alok Raphael (Ajmer), Marceline (Jhansi), Tellis Nelson Prakash (Delhi), and Lakwin (Jaipur).

This ceremony of Ordination to the Diaconate was witnessed by more than eighty priests, several other religious persons, parishioners and many well-wishers from in and around the city of Allahabad. The Bishop in his homily appealed all the deacons to bear witness to Christ through their faith and by a life of simplicity. The celebration came to end at 12.15 p.m. followed by refreshment for all the people present. Later in the Seminary, Rev. Fr. Francis D’Souza, the Rector congratulated the deacons following which they were accorded a floral felicitation too. Their joy further enhanced when they cut the cake and shared it with their companions and others.