Called to serve our Mother, the Church!
His Excellency Most Rev Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore, ordained five Carmelite Brothers of the Karnataka Goa Province as Deacons at St. Joseph's Inter-Diocesan Seminary in Jeppu along with eight Diocesan Brothers. The Diaconal Ordination took place on the 5th of June 2023 in the afternoon at 03:00 pm. The Carmelites who were ordained included Dns. Pranam Jovin Fernandes, Siltan Philip Noronha, Antony Stephen, John Clifford Rodrigues, and Santosh Menezes.

In his homily, the Bishop invited the Ordinandi to be convinced of the responsibility the Church endorses them with. Rev. Fr Ronald Serrao, the Rector of the Seminary called out the names of those to be raised to the Order of Diaconate and declared them worthy to receive the sacred orders. The Holy Mass was concelebrated by a large number of Diocesan clergy as well as religious priests. Among the religious priests were Fr. Melvin D'Cunha, Superior of St Joseph's Monastery, Mangaluru, Fr. Deep Fernandes, Master of Theology Students and Fr. Lancy Lovis, former Master of Theology Students. Family members of each of these brothers had gathered to witness their sons being raised to Sacred Orders.

After the spiritual celebration, a short felicitation programme was organised at Mariya Jayanti Hall in the Seminary promises. The newly ordained Deacons were felicitated in the presence of their family, friends and Carmelite friars. Fr. Lancy Lewis delivered a short speech expressing his appreciation of the newly ordained Deacons. The Karnataka-Goa Province of the Discalced Carmelites expresses its deep joy at the ordination of these Brothers to the order of diaconate and promises its fervent support for their diaconal ministry.