The District of Brazil rejoiced with two Ordinations to the Diaconate, the first being Mr. José Soares da Silva Filho, C.S.C., who was ordained on December 15 and the second being Mr. Valman Fernandes Barbosa, C.S.C., who was ordained two days later on December 17.

Deacon Soares has been serving for three years in Campus Ministry at Colégio Notre Dame de Campinas, including a year and a half as Coordinator, and so the Ordination Mass was held in the school’s chapel. The Most Rev. João Inácio Muller, O.F.M., Archbishop of Campinas, presided at the Ordination.

Deacon Fernandes was ordained in Jesus Ressucitado Parish in Belo Horizonte, which is where he had served several years as a seminarian. The Most Rev. Nivaldo dos Santos Ferreira, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte, presided, and once again, Br. Ronaldo offered words of gratitude and exhortation.

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There were festive receptions that followed each of the Ordination Masses. Deacon Soares's reception was held at the school and Deacon Fernandes's at the parish.

Among others in attendance both Ordinations were attended by Br. Ronaldo Almeida, C.S.C., Superior of the District of Brazil, and Br. Michael Winslow, C.S.C., representing the Moreau Province, which oversees the Congregation’s mission in Brazil. There were also two Holy Cross religious from the neighboring District of Chile-Peru: Fr. John Phalen, C.S.C., who was their Novice Master at the Holy Cross Novitiate in Huaycán, Peru, and Fr. Jim Gutiérrez, C.S.C., who was a novitiate classmate.

For their diaconates, Deacon Soares will be serving at the District’s Nossa Senhora Auxiliadora Mission in Pernambuco, while Deacon Fernandes will be at São José do Jaguaré Parish in the Juguaré neighborhood of São Paulo.