Over the past two months, the Congregation of Holy Cross in India has continued to celebrate the priestly ordinations of its transitional deacons. During February and March, three priests were ordained for the Province of South India, joining the three who were ordained for the Province of North East India in January and February.
The first to be ordained for the Province of South India was Fr. Eedara Vamshi, C.S.C., on 15 February on the grounds of St. Peter’s Chair Church in Gunturupally, Narmetta. In front of his family, members of the Congregation, and the faithful from his village, Fr. Eedara was ordained by the Most Rev. Udumala Bala, Bishop of the Diocese of Warangal.
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The next in the line of ordinations was Fr. Thomas Lima, C.S.C., from the village of Gumuda, Odisha. On 18 February, he became the first Holy Cross priest ordained from the state of Odisha. Presiding at Fr. Lima’s ordination was Most Rev. Apilinar Senapati, CM, Bishop of the Diocese of Rayagada. Once again, many Holy Cross religious joined his family and the local faithful for the ordination on the grounds of St. Francis Xavier Church.
Then on 3 March, Fr. Jessel Pradeep Cutinha, C.S.C., joined his classmates in the priesthood. The Mass of Ordination was held at St. Francis Xavier Church in Ferar, Mangalore, and was attended by his family, friends, brothers in Holy Cross, and members of the parish. The Most Rev. Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of the Diocese of Mangalore, was the ordaining bishop.
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These three ordinations bring to a total of six the number of priestly ordinations that the Congregation of Holy Cross has celebrated in India so far this year. One more ordination from the Province of Tamil Nadu is scheduled for May. All seven are part of the Congregation’s Final Vows class from 2 August 2024. The theme of the celebration was “With Christ for His Mission”, and the Mass of Final Profession was held at Holy Cross Seminary in Pune.