On Wednesday, 8th December, the feast-day of the Immaculate Conception, the Custody had the joy of seeing Friars Zdenko Gruber and Roger Saad ordained deacons. Friar Zdenko is from the province of St. Cyril and St. Methodius in Croatia, the second is from the province of the Custody and is Lebanese.
Many friars of the Custody attended on this occasion; about forty priests concelebrated, surrounding the Custos and Monsignor William Shomali, who ordained the two friars. It was the first time that the Auxiliary Bishop of the Latin Patriarchate, who was himself ordained last May, presided for the laying of the hands and the transmission of the Gospel. “Inside, I was moved,” he confided when the mass was over.
During his homily, he recalled the spirit of the feast-day being celebrated and meditated on the figure of Mary, the saintliest of all saints, in whom service and humility are one, always ready to render service and be attentive for the good of all. In short, a figure of a deacon par excellence.
Monsignor Shomali thanked the friars for their commitment to the discipleship of Christ, the service of the Church and its friars. He also remembered their families who were unable to attend but who were very present in the hearts and prayers and to whom, as to the two friars, the Lord has promised to thank them for their generosity one hundred times over.
Friar Roger and Friar Zdenk felt as though they had already received an advance of these hundred thanks, warmly surrounded as they were by their Franciscan family.
It was in this spirit and atmosphere of joy that everybody gathered in the hall of the General Curia before sharing their meal in the refectory of St. Saviour’s convent.
For Friar Zdenko Gruber and Friar Roger Saad, this celebration ought to be the last stage towards the priesthood that will be conferred on them next June. We hope that they have –despite their studies – the time to experience this period of diaconate in all the richness of its dimensions of love and service to their brothers.
Mab
Many friars of the Custody attended on this occasion; about forty priests concelebrated, surrounding the Custos and Monsignor William Shomali, who ordained the two friars. It was the first time that the Auxiliary Bishop of the Latin Patriarchate, who was himself ordained last May, presided for the laying of the hands and the transmission of the Gospel. “Inside, I was moved,” he confided when the mass was over.
During his homily, he recalled the spirit of the feast-day being celebrated and meditated on the figure of Mary, the saintliest of all saints, in whom service and humility are one, always ready to render service and be attentive for the good of all. In short, a figure of a deacon par excellence.
Monsignor Shomali thanked the friars for their commitment to the discipleship of Christ, the service of the Church and its friars. He also remembered their families who were unable to attend but who were very present in the hearts and prayers and to whom, as to the two friars, the Lord has promised to thank them for their generosity one hundred times over.
Friar Roger and Friar Zdenk felt as though they had already received an advance of these hundred thanks, warmly surrounded as they were by their Franciscan family.
It was in this spirit and atmosphere of joy that everybody gathered in the hall of the General Curia before sharing their meal in the refectory of St. Saviour’s convent.
For Friar Zdenko Gruber and Friar Roger Saad, this celebration ought to be the last stage towards the priesthood that will be conferred on them next June. We hope that they have –despite their studies – the time to experience this period of diaconate in all the richness of its dimensions of love and service to their brothers.
Mab