The month of June 2026 bore witness to three Final Professions in the Congregation of Holy Cross. The first two were in the Province of North East India, where Mr. Antony Thamwar Monsang, C.S.C., and Mr. Gilderious Khonglah, C.S.C., professed Final Vows on Saturday, 6 June. The Mass of Final Profession was held at the Holy Cross Provincial House in Agartala. Fr. K.J. Abraham, C.S.C., Superior of the Province of North East India, presided at the Mass and received the seminarians’ vows.

The following day, Sunday, 7 June, both Thamwar and Gilderious were ordained to the diaconate by the Most Rev. Lumen Monteiro, C.S.C., Bishop of the Diocese of Agartala. The Ordination Mass took place at St. André Parish, Bodhjungnagar.

Both celebrations were attended by numerous Holy Cross priests, diocesan priests, religious sisters, family members of the newly professed and ordained, and many lay faithful, whose presence and prayers added to the joy of the occasions.

Following their Diaconate Ordinations, both Antony and Gilderious have returned to Holy Cross Seminary in Pune to complete their pastoral formation as they continue their preparation for priestly ministry.

The Congregation’s third Final Profession in June was from the Province Canadienne: Mr. Meo Wilfrid Labossière, C.S.C. He professed his Final Vows on Friday, 13 June, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Mass was held in the crypt of Saint Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal, Quebec. Fr. Claude Grou, C.S.C., Superior of the Province Canadienne, received Meo’s vows, while Fr. Jomon Kalladanthiyil, C.S.C., Provincial Vicar, presided at the Mass and gave the homily.

Many Holy Cross Sisters, Brothers, and Priests joined with Meo’s family and friends at the Mass. There was also a notable contingent of Holy Cross religious from the United States, as Meo did his novitiate in Cascade, Colorado, and has been living and studying at Moreau Seminary and Scholasticate at Notre Dame, Indiana, for the past two years. Following the liturgy, there was a festive agape meal in the welcome center of the oratory.

Read more about Holy Cross Final Profession of Vows from around the world

Then on Sunday, 14 June, Meo was ordained a deacon by the Most Rev. Christian Lépine, Archbishop of Montreal, at the noon Mass at Saint-Laurent Parish. As a deacon, Meo will serve both at the parish, which our Founder, Blessed Basile Moreau, visited, and at Saint Joseph’s Oratory.

Deacon Gilderious Khonglah, C.S.C., a member of the Province of North East India, comes from Lamin, Meghalaya. He professed First Vows on 25 May 2022. Gilderious had the opportunity to serve the sick and suffering at Civil Hospital in Shillong, which taught him the importance of listening to others. His work with deaf and mute children was a challenging, yet enjoyable and educational experience. Through this service, he learned to be grateful to God for the gifts that he has and to use them in service to humanity. Gilderious has a bachelor’s from Tripura University. He also graduated from Jnana Deepa Institute of Philosophy and Theology with a bachelor’s in theology. Gilderious has a special devotion to the Rosary. He speaks and writes English and Khasi.

Deacon Antony Thamwar Monsang, C.S.C., a member of the Province of North East India, hails from the village of Monsang Pantha in the state of Manipur. He pronounced First Vows on 25 May 2022. Thamwar values community life and enthusiastically participates in activities fostering positive relationships with others. He sees the vows as “a path to freedom and deeper love.” Thamwar believes that “prayer is not limited to the chapel but continues in daily life, in community, and in ministry.” In 2016, Thamwar earned a bachelor’s in philosophy from Christ the King College in Shillong, Meghalaya, and in 2026 he graduated with a bachelor’s in theology degree from Jnana Deepa Institute of Theology. He speaks English, Hindi, and Manipuri.

Deacon Meo Wilfrid Labossière, C.S.C., a member of the Province Canadienne, is a native of Saint-Léon, Manitoba. He took First Vows on 16 July 2021. Meo graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Holy Cross College and a Master of Arts in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. Meo has served at St. Joseph’s Oratory in the Blessings Office and has worked at Holy Cross Parish in South Bend, Indiana. Meo is fluent in both French and English. He brings his gift of languages to serve the Congregation by doing simultaneous translations during programs and webinar sessions. Meo has a fervent prayer life informed by his deep spiritual reading. He is very comfortable praying with nature and experiences God’s presence, especially in outdoor spaces.