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The Province of St. Joseph, Hyderabad, was filled with joy and gratitude as four Salesian deacons—Dn Chinthaguntla Prem Kumar SDB, Dn Kadiyam Prasanna Kumar SDB, Dn Koduri Joseph Thambi SDB, and Dn Ubbana Suresh SDB—were ordained to the priesthood. The solemn ordination ceremony, a significant spiritual milestone, was presided over by Most Rev. Joseph Raja Rao D.D., Bishop of Vijayawada, on Saturday, December 28, 2024, at the Don Bosco School (CBSE) community in Gunadala, Vijayawada.
The event was a grand spiritual celebration, bringing together families, friends, and a multitude of clergy and religious to witness the conferral of the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Fr Santiagu Thomas, Provincial of Hyderabad Province, and Fr Michael Kishor, Vice Provincial, joined over 100 priests, including Salesians and other clergy members, to concelebrate the Eucharistic liturgy. The ceremony was meticulously organized under the guidance of Fr Bhasker the rector of Gunadala Community and Fr Thalla Willson served as the master of ceremonies.
In his homily, Bishop Raja Rao reflected on the sacred and transformative nature of priesthood. He highlighted that priesthood is not earned but is a divine gift, bestowed by God’s grace. The Bishop lauded the newly ordained priests and their families for their selfless dedication and encouraged the new priests to model their ministry on the servant leadership of Christ, who washed the feet of His disciples.
The Bishop also paid tribute to the legacy of senior priests, acknowledging their role in inspiring vocations. He urged the new priests to honor this legacy through prayer and unwavering service to the Church and its faithful. He invoked the intercession of Mary Help of Christians to guide and sustain the newly ordained in their mission.
The ordination was a jubilant occasion, with parents, relatives, religious sisters, and members of the faithful joining in the celebration. The solemnity of the event reflected the profound joy and commitment of the Salesian community to fostering vocations and serving the Church.
This momentous event marks a new chapter in the Province of St. Joseph, Hyderabad, as these four priests begin their journey of evangelization and service, staying true to the Salesian mission of uplifting youth and marginalized communities.
