On the evening of the 14th of September of 2022, Bro. Ditto Subin M.Id was welcomed into the order of the Deacons and was ordained by His Grace Joseph Kalathiparambil, the Archbishop of Verapoly, Kerala, India, at St. Pius X church, Kalamassery. It was an occasion of great joy to the Idente Missionaries, especially to its Province of India, as it is the first diaconate ordination celebrated in the province.
The celebration marked great importance for all the missionaries and the Catholic Church since, on this day the Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The occasion elevates the offering of oneself to a complete sacrifice as Christ elevated himself on the cross. Archbishop Joseph reminded us of this in his sermon on this special occasion. Archbishop stated that the life of a deacon is to serve Christ, completely giving himself to Christ and faithful to what the church asks of him. He also encouraged Bro. Subin to live in a state of continuous prayer, just as the Founder of Idente Missionaries asked of his children. He also stated that this example should encourage young people to follow Christ’s path.
The Holy Mass started with the procession of Bro. Subin, accompanied by his parents on either side and followed by priests and the archbishop. The Eucharistic celebration was concelebrated by Fr. Martin Panakkal, M.Id (the acting provincial superior), Fr. Dinoy Rebera (Secretary to the Archbishop), Fr. Sebastian Vattaparambil (Rector, St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, South Kalamassery), Fr. Josy Kochappilly (Director of Kolbe Seminary), Fr. Antony Arackal (Sr. Manager, St. Paul’s International Sen. Sec. School), Fr. Denny Peringat (Manager- AISAT), Fr. Varghese Chempoly (OFM Cap, Guardian, St. Francis Assisi Provincial House), and Fr. Biju Choothamparambil, M.Id.
The celebration was also blessed with the presence of Bro. Subin’s parents who had traveled from Tamil Nadu, his native place, with his siblings, relatives, and friends. Their witness decorated the celebration with prayer and happiness. Apart from the families, the religious sisters and brothers from various religious communities prayed with the whole congregation for the life of Bro. Subin during the Eucharistic celebration. The celebration concluded with the refreshment after the Holy Mass at the parish hall. Brothers and sisters of the Idente Missionaries, families and friends greeted Bro. Subin at the hall.
On the 18th of September, Bro Subin served as a deacon at the provincial house of the brothers of the Idente Missionaries in the presence of the provincial superiors of both brothers and sisters, in which Bro. Subin thanked all those people who helped him to persevere in his call to religious life, especially his parents. On this occasion, he also remembered the encouragement of the president and General Superior of the Idente Missionaries to live the Charism faithfully. At the end of the celebration Fr. Luis Casasús, the president of the Idente Missionaries connected via google meet to congratulate Bro. Subin on this beautiful day. During his address, he thanked Bro. Subin for taking this important step in his life and for his faithfulness to the Idente Charism. On September 25, Bro. Subin traveled to his native place and served as a deacon in his home parish with its assistant parish priest. The parishioners and friends, especially his classmates congratulated him.
Bro. Subin joined the Idente Missionaries in 2008 after meeting them in his native place. Then, he was transferred to the Province of New York in 2014 for his higher studies after receiving his temporary vows in 2011. He has completed his priestly studies at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, New York, while serving at the parishes administered by the Idente Missionaries in the Bronx and Long Island, New York.
Link to the pictures below
https://photos.app.goo.gl/jKRHbh6iV1f7CKx38
