After 27 in the month of August, the Congregation of Holy Cross continued its run of Final Professions in the month of September. Three of the Congregation’s four provinces in India came together in Christ the King Parish in Pune on September 18 to celebrate six Final Professions, two each for each province.

The religious making Final Profession for the Province of Tamil Nadu were Mr. Martin Madalai Muthu I., C.S.C., and Mr. David Peter, C.S.C. For the Province of North East India, they were Mr. Francis Lamin Gayang, C.S.C., and Mr. Desing John Nongphud, C.S.C. Then for the Province of South India, they were Mr. Albert Kulandai, C.S.C., and Mr. Joseph Thomas Thermadom, C.S.C.

The Final Profession of Mr. Thermadom made history in the Congregation and possibly in India, as he became the first deaf person to make Final Profession in the Congregation of Holy Cross. He is also probably the first finally professed religious who was born deaf in India.

Fr. Roque D’Costa, C.S.C., Superior of the Province of South India, presided at the Mass of Final Profession, and Fr. Joseph Gaspar Selvaraj, C.S.C., Superior of the Province of Tamil Nadu, preached the homily. Also present was Fr. Theophilus Sohtun, C.S.C., Vicar of the Province of North East India. All three authorities received the vows of their respective members.

Following the ceremony, the newly professed, their guests, and community members enjoyed a celebratory dinner.

The following day, September 19, in the same venue, all six were ordained deacons by the Most Rev. John Rodrigues, Bishop of the Diocese of Pune. They have all subsequently returned to their home jurisdictions to complete their deacon placements.

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Deacon Francis Lamin Gayang, C.S.C., a member of the Province of North East India, entered formation in 2010 and professed his First Vows on May 25, 2019. In Pune, he studied theology at Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Theology. Describing prayer as “my steering wheel,” he has apostolic zeal, finds himself “at home with the poor and ordinary people.” Francis spent his pastoral year at St. André Parish in Budhjungnagar, Tripura. He is gifted in music, known for his singing and playing guitar, and enjoys teaching music to others.

Deacon Albert Kulandai, C.S.C., a member of the Province of South India, comes from the state of Karnataka and entered formation on May 10, 2011, making his First Profession seven years later on May 28, 2018. Fluent in several languages, he also has skills in plumbing and electricity. He had pastoral experiences in Holy Cross Students’ Home, Katapadi in Upudi, Karnataka, and Holy Cross School in Aymanam in Kottayam, Kerala. He has devotions to Our Mother Mary, praying a daily Rosary, and to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Deacon Desing John Nongphud, C.S.C., a member of the Province of North East India, comes from a Catholic family in Markasa Parish of the Diocese of Nongstoin in Meghalaya. He made his First Profession on May 25, 2019. He made a pastoral year at St. André School in Aizawl, Mizoram, where he taught and helped with discipline and finances. Like his classmates, he completed his theology in Pune. Desing has grown in and come to enjoy breaking open the Word of God for others, both through teaching and preaching.

Deacon Martin Madalai Muthu I., C.S.C., a member of the Province of Tamil Nadu, is from a “traditional Catholic” family of six. His eldest sister is a religious in the Congregation of Sisters of Charity. A pivotal moment came when he fell sick as a young child and prayed to Jesus, saying: “Lord, if you cure me of this sickness, I will offer my entire life in serving you as a priest.” His grandfather led him to Holy Cross. Having served in various ministries, he believes learning about languages and cultures are the keys to ministry.

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Deacon David Peter, C.S.C., a member of the Province of Tamil Nadu, states that his early years in a Catholic family, parish, and school were foundational for his vocation. He learned about Holy Cross during a vocation visit by Fr. Arockia Samy, C.S.C. He made his First Vows on May 28, 2018. David performed well in his theological studies at Jnana Deepa, Institute of Philosophy and Theology. He has become known for his compassion and his concern for the poor, including his work with families infected with HIV in 2019-2022.

Deacon Joseph Thomas Thermadom, C.S.C., a member of Province of South India, is the first deaf and mute finally professed member of the Congregation. He first joined the Dominican Missionaries for the Deaf Apostolate, a diocesan congregation in the United States, with whom he completed his philosophy and theology. Thomas met Holy Cross through Fr. Biju Moolakkaara, C.S.C., and made his First Profession on May 25, 2020. During formation, he ministered to the deaf community at Navadhvani and taught in the deaf school at Karunapuram.

The Provinces of North East India, South India, and Tamil Nadu gathered in Christ the King Parish, Pune, India on September 18 to witness their six Final Professions, two for each Province.

Adding to the joy of this year’s celebration was that one of the seminarians professing Final Vows, Mr. Joseph Thomas Thermadom, C.S.C., became the first deaf person to make Final Profession in the Congregation of Holy Cross. He is also probably the first finally professed religious who was born deaf in India.

Joining him in the Final Profession class were: Mr. Francis Lamin Gayang, C.S.C., Mr. Albert Kulandai, C.S.C., Mr. Desing John Nongphud, C.S.C., Mr. Martin Madalai Muthu I., C.S.C., and Mr. David Peter, C.S.C. 

Fr. Roque D’Costa, C.S.C., Provincial, presided at the Mass, and Fr. Joseph Gaspar Selvaraj, C.S.C., Provincial, preached the homily. Also present was Fr. Theophilus Sohtun, C.S.C., Vicar. All three received the vows of their respective members.

Following the ceremony, the newly professed, their guests, and community members enjoyed a celebratory dinner.

The following day, September 19, in the same venue, all six were ordained deacons by the Most Rev. John Rodrigues, Bishop of the Diocese of Pune. They have all subsequently returned to their home jurisdictions to complete their deacon placements.