(Bengaluru, India) The Province of Bangalore and the Vice-Province of Majella celebrated with joy two days of special importance at Mt. St. Alphonsus, Bangalore. 8th December 2020 marked the celebration of the Final Profession of 7 students: 4 from the Province of Bangalore (Nithin, Abhay, Johnson, and Solomon) and 3 from the V. Province of Majella (Savio, Ashwil, and Joyan). Fr Edward Joseph (Provincial of Bangalore) and Fr Joseph Ivel Mendanha (V. Provincial of Majella) accepted the vows of their respective students.
These final professions usually scheduled for June had to be postponed due to the Covid-19 and it was fitting to celebrate them on a day of grace, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother. Fr Xavier Sanjivi in his homily attested to the challenges ahead of the young confreres who made their final vows but called them to live with faith following the example of our Blessed Mother. Fr Ivel spoke of the reality of Grace in our lives, “All is Grace!” and when we cooperate with grace God works wonders in our lives.
The Eucharist concluded with the commissioning of 3 young confreres of the Bangalore Province who completed their Pastoral Year (Joseph Thambi, Deepak Bage, and Ananthraj). Fr Edward the Provincial challenged them to go out as Redemptorist Missionaries proclaiming Plentiful Redemption to the Most Abandoned.
The following day, 9th December, 6 confreres were ordained Deacons by the Archbishop of Bangalore at Mt St Alphonsus: 3 from the Bangalore Province (Abhay, Johnson and Solomon) and 3 from the Vice-Province of Majella (Savio, Ashwil, and Joyan). We thank the Lord for these young confreres who will soon be leaving Mt St Alphonsus after 4 years of Theology as they go to their diaconate ministry among the most abandoned in their respective units. We thank the Lord for the grace of their vocations in the Bangalore Province and in the Vice-Province of Majella and we acknowledge the impact of Mt. St Alphonsus Theologate (Common Theology Institute of the 3 Units in India) in their formation as Redemptorist Missionaries.
Joseph Ivel Mendanha, C.Ss.R.
