Events

Year 2017 with 7 blessings!

Jan 3, 2017: "Seven Capuchin Deacons to be ordained Priests on January 9, 2017"

Throughout the Bible, God often gives symbolic significance to mundane items or concepts. The first use of the number 7 in the Bible relates to the creation week in Genesis 1. Thus, right at the start of the Bible, the number 7 is identified with something being “finished” or “complete.” Series of seven things crop up often in the Bible. For example, we find seven pairs of each clean animal on the ark (Genesis 7:2); seven stems on the tabernacle’s lamp stand (Exodus 25:37); seven qualities of the Messiah in Isaiah 11:2; seven signs in John’s Gospel; seven things the Lord hates in Proverbs 6:16; seven parables in Matthew 13; and seven woes in Matthew 23.
In the acts of the apostles we have the mention of 7 deacons.Some have asserted that it was so determined because seven was a sacred number, others because there were seven congregations in Jerusalem, or seven thousand converts. Perhaps, however, the true reason was simply that seven is a very convenient practical number. A council at Neo-Caesarea, A.D. 814, ordained that the number of seven deacons should never be exceeded in any city, while in the Church of Rome the same limitation prevailed from the second to the twelfth century, so that the Roman cardinals, who were the parochial clergy of Rome, numbered among them merely seven deacons down to that late period. The seven chosen by the primitive Church were to be men of good report because they were to be public functionaries, whose decisions were to allay commotions and murmurings; and therefore they must be men of weight, in whom the public had confidence. But, further, they must be men "full of the Spirit and of wisdom." Piety was not the only qualification; they must be wise, prudent, sound in judgment as well.
In all, the number 7 is used in the Bible more than seven hundred times. If we also count the words related to seven (terms like sevenfold or seventy or seven hundred), the count is still higher. Of course, not every instance of the number 7 in the Bible carries a deeper significance. Sometimes, a 7 is just a 7, and we must be cautious about attaching symbolic meanings to any text, especially when Scripture is not explicit about such meanings. However, there are times when it seems that God is communicating the idea of divine completeness, perfection, and wholeness by means of the number 7.
Year 2017 has brought 7 blessings to the Karnataka Capuchin Holy Trinity Province. This year on January, 9 seven deacons will be ordained to the priesthood by Rt. Rev Bishop Aloysius Paul Dsouza of Mangalore diocese at 3 pm. The seven deacons hailing from different parishes of Mangalore and one from Udupi diocese are all set for the big day. At Present they are having a spiritual preparation at Monte Mariano Novitiate house at Farangipate.

Deacon Joel Lobo is the native of Belthangadi, belongs tothe Holy Redeemer parish, Belthangadi.

Deacon Jason Pais is the native of Puttur belongs to St Anonty’s church, Bannur, Puttur.

Deacon Jeevan Walter Dsouza is the native of Fermai and belongs to the St Antony’s Church Fermai.

Deacon Joy is the native of Balkonje, belongs to St Paul’s Church Balkunje.

Deacon Avil Manoj Rosario is the native of Kuppepadav and belongs to the Immaculate Heart of Mary church, Kuppepadav.

Deacon Edwin Rakesh Dsouza is the native of Surathkal and belongs to the Sacred heart Church, Suratkal.

Deacon Michael Menezes is the native of Shirva and belongs to Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi.

These Seven Capuchin Brothers are a bunch of talented religious. In the past years during their seminary studies they have proved their potentialities by serving the province and the order in various capacities. As they are venturing into the new phase of life we the Capuchin friars of St Anne’s Community, Mangalore wish them success and happiness in everyday life. May their life as holy Capuchin priests be a blessing to all the faithful, whom they meet, talk, deal and live with.
We also request you dear readers to whisper a small prayer for all the priests around the world who are faithfully working for the establishment of the kingdom values in the world.

Lord Jesus Christ, you called
St. Francis of Assisi
to follow you in living the Gospel life.
You inspired others to follow him by the power of his example.
We ask you to increase vocations to the Church,
to the Capuchin Order and to all religious orders.
Inspire young men and women to devote their lives in your service.
This we earnestly petition
through our Seraphic Father,
St. Francis and Our Lady of Angels,
Patroness of the Capuchin Franciscans Order.
AMEN.