Ordinations were recently conducted in the Dioceses of Jaffna and Mannar, with several deacons ordained to the priesthood and others ordained as deacons.
In the Diocese of Jaffna, five deacons were ordained as priests during a ceremony held on April 18 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Jaffna. The solemn Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin Gnanapragasam, Bishop of Jaffna.During the sacred rite, Deacons Johnson John Hiltan, Stanislaus Stephenraj, John Philip John Emiltan, and Claretians Manuvelpillai Suganthan and Jesuthas Krishanth were ordained to the priesthood.
Meanwhile, in the Diocese of Mannar, five new priests and two deacons were ordained during a ceremony held on April 9 at St. Sebastian’s Cathedral, Mannar. The Mass was presided over by Rt. Rev. Dr. Antonypillai Gnanapragasam, Bishop of Mannar.
During the ceremony, Deacons Robert Amalathasan Benjamin, Jeyaseelan Jeyasuthan, Pathmanathan Anton Reginold of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate Congregation, and Perinpanathan Miranda Niroj Clastan and Sahayanathan Jenil Peiris of the Somascan Congregation were ordained as priests. Meanwhile, Brothers Navaratnaraja Ajanthan and Jesuthasan Rohan Peries of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate Congregation were ordained as deacons.
Among those present at the Mannar celebration were Bishop Emeritus Rt. Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Fernando, Rev. Fr. Tamilnesan, Vicar General of Mannar, Rev. Fr. Josephthas Jebaratnam, Vicar General of Jaffna, Rev. Fr. Paul Jeyanthan Pachek, Provincial Superior of the Jaffna Province of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Rev. Fr. Agnel Amal, Provincial Superior of the Somascan Congregation for Sri Lanka, India, and Australia, and Rev. Fr. Petrus Thayaparan, Rector of St. Francis Xavier Major Seminary, Jaffna, along with many priests, religious sisters, and faithful.
