Seven seminarians in India – Mr. Emmanuel Ralte, C.S.C., Mr. Gnanaprakasham Uthiriaraj, C.S.C., Mr. Jerome Chorei, C.S.C., Mr. John Valan, C.S.C., Mr. Michael Vanlalruata, C.S.C., Mr. Oliver Christ Nazareth, C.S.C., and Mr. Pappy Valan, C.S.C. – made their profession of Final Vows in the Congregation of Holy Cross on February 8. The Mass was held at the Holy Cross Seminary Hall in Pune.
Vanlalruata described his Final Profession as a moment of “joy and jubilation, defying critics and the material world that such dedication to God is possible with God. … We are ready now to march forward, come what may, with the help of God.”
The seven men who professed their Final Vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience come from the Province of South India and the Province of North East India. Receiving their vows were Rev. Leo D’Souza, C.S.C., the Superior of the South India Province, and Rev. Robert Mathias, C.S.C., who was serving as the delegate of the Superior of the Province of North East India.
Check out videos of Final Vows and Ordinations in Holy Cross
The following day, February 9, the seven men were ordained to the deaconate by Bishop Valerian D’Souza, the Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Pune. The Mass was held at the Papal Seminary Chapel in Pune.
The seven deacons now continue their third year of theology until March 31. At that point, they will return to their respective provinces to work in parishes for the summer. The deacons will return to Pune in June for their fourth year of theology. Their ordinations to the priesthood are then scheduled in November and December.
This group of seven follows a group of six Holy Cross priests ordained in India in 2012.