Ten seminarians of the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier, Society of Pilar, in India were ordained deacons on October 2.

Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, archbishop of Goa and Daman, officiated the ordination at the congregation’s seminary chapel in Pilar.

It was the first visit of the prelate to Pilar after he was elevated cardinal by Pope Francis on August 27.

Father Nazareth Fernandes, the congregation’s superior general, congratulated the cardinal and presented him a shawl and a wooden art work as a token.

During Mass, Cardinal Ferrao reminded the newly ordained deacons to continue the mission of humble, joyful, selfless and caring service of Jesus.

In his homily, the prelate called on the young men to be rooted in Jesus, like St. Teresa of the Child Jesus who lived her life rooted in Jesus and with an attitude of total surrender to God.

The Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier was founded in 1887 in Goa. It is an indigenous congregation that serves 31 dioceses in India and nine overseas.