On 11 November, 2023, Most Rev. Derek Fernandes, the Bishop of Belgaum and the Apostolic Administrator of Karwar, ordained three seminarians of Redemptoris Mater Diocesan Missionary Seminary, Bangalore as deacons – Bro. Agnel Salvador Dias and Bro. Leo Ciasico for the Diocese of Karwar and Bro. Joseph Santhosh Jude for the Diocese of Belgaum. This Diaconal Ordination took place in St. Anne’s Church, Marathahalli, Bangalore and about 30 priests, few religious sisters and about 500 faithful participated.
Bro. Agnel hails from Honnavar and holds a degree in Psychology. His parents passed to the Lord when he was young. Before entering the seminary in 2013, he had the rich experience of working in a hospital, pharmacy, bank and especially as an itinerant, announcing the Gospel for 7 years. He did his pre-diaconate ministry in Our Lady of Piety Church, Halga. The foster family who took care of him and raised him up were present in the event.
Bro. Leo comes from a large family of 4 brothers and 2 sisters. He holds a degree in Industrial Education, and worked as a teacher in a government school for several years before responding to the Lord’s call to enter the seminary. After the formation in the seminary, he worked as an itinerant in the West Coast of India and did his pre-diaconate ministry in Our Lady of Remedies Church, Gundibala.
Bro. Jude is from Chennai and comes from a small family of his parents and one younger brother. He holds a doctorate from IIT Madras, which he completed after he entered the seminary. Before his ordination, he served in a mission station in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and did his time of pre-diaconate ministry in the Bishop’s House in Belgaum.
All three of these seminarians belong to Neocatechumenal communities in their respective parishes of origin, and discovered their vocations to the priesthood as a consequence of living their vocation to be Christians in a community.
