The season of Ordinations in India continued for the Congregation of Holy Cross in the month of March. Fr. Prasanta Basumatary, C.S.C., was ordained to the priesthood on March 3, 2019, by the Most Rev Michael Akasius Toppo, Bishop of the Diocese of Tezpur.

The colorful and joyful ceremony took place in Fr. Basumatary’s home parish at the Catholic Mission in Gopur in the state of Assam. Since this was the first ordination from the parish, the entire church community joined with several Holy Cross confreres in the celebration. Over 5,000 people were in attendance.

In his homily, Bishop Toppo expressed his appreciation for the Holy Cross priests who planted the seed of a priestly vocation in Fr. Basumatary and who formed him for his sacramental ministry. He is just the second priest ordained for Holy Cross from Assam.

Fr. Basumatary is the first of three Ordinations this year for the Congregation’s Province of North East India. Fr. Basumatary and his two classmates, Mr. Jowelson Khongtani, C.S.C., and Mr. Marbilus Kharakor, C.S.C., professed Final Vows in the Congregation on September 14, 2018. All were ordained to the deaconate the following day, September 15, which is the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, the Patroness of the Congregation.

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Both Deacon Khongtani and Kharakor are from the state of Meghalaya. They will be ordained together on May 18, 2019, by the Most Rev. Dominic Jala, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Shillong.

Currently, Fr. Basumatary is preparing to assume his new assignment as the Assistant Parish Priest at Holy Cross Parish in Champhai. He will begin at the parish on April 20, 2019. The three of Ordinations for the Province of North East India are part of 11 Ordinations for the Congregation of Holy Cross in all of India. Of the other 11 Ordinations, five are from the Province of South India and three are from the Vicariate of Tamil Nadu.

Special thanks to Fr. Kanikkai Jeyraj, C.S.C., for his assistance with this article.