On 17 September 2005, when the Franciscan Order celebrates the Feast of the Stigmata of Saint Francis of Assisi, seven new Franciscan deacons were ordained in the church of Saint Saviour in Jerusalem, which was filled to capacity for the occasion. The Ordination Mass was celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal George Cottier, Theologian of the Pontifical Household.
About 40 concelebrants took part, led by Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM, Custos of the Holy Land, and Fr. Artemio Vitores, the Custodial Vicar.
In his homily Cardinal Cottier commented the text of chapter six of the Acts of the Apostles, which deals with the institution of the first seven deacons of the Apostolic Church.
He invited the newly ordained deacons to be coherent witnesses of Christ in today's Church.
The seven new deacons are Fr. Gustavo Acho, Fr. Lawrence Coblavie, Fr. Gabi Kalak, who are members of the Custody of the Holy Land, and Fr. Sergio Martinez, Fr. Cesar Roman (Mexicans), Fr. Elder De Sousa and Fr. Raimundo Mourao (Brasilians), who studying at the Theological Seminary of the Holy Land Custody. At the end of the celebration all the guests were invited to refreshments in the friary of Saint Saviour.
About 40 concelebrants took part, led by Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM, Custos of the Holy Land, and Fr. Artemio Vitores, the Custodial Vicar.
In his homily Cardinal Cottier commented the text of chapter six of the Acts of the Apostles, which deals with the institution of the first seven deacons of the Apostolic Church.
He invited the newly ordained deacons to be coherent witnesses of Christ in today's Church.
The seven new deacons are Fr. Gustavo Acho, Fr. Lawrence Coblavie, Fr. Gabi Kalak, who are members of the Custody of the Holy Land, and Fr. Sergio Martinez, Fr. Cesar Roman (Mexicans), Fr. Elder De Sousa and Fr. Raimundo Mourao (Brasilians), who studying at the Theological Seminary of the Holy Land Custody. At the end of the celebration all the guests were invited to refreshments in the friary of Saint Saviour.