by BIS Correspondent
MUMBAI, DEC 19, 2016: The Shrine of Don Bosco's Madonna, witnessed two Priestly Ordinations of Deacon Shaun D'Lima and Deacon Mylin Noronha on December 17, by 
Cardinal Oswald Gracias.
In a solemn Holy Eucharistic celebration, the candidates entered in procession with their parents and other priests, where a packed congregation waited to pray and celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Priesthood with them.
The order of Holy Mass was interspersed by the rites of the ordination. The deacons took their Vows and invoked the prayers of the holy men and women through the Litany of Saints.
This was followed by the Laying of Hands and Consecration of the candidates. Their hands were then Anointed and the Cardinal offered the Kiss of Peace to the two new priests of the Catholic church.
Cardinal Gracias in his homily quoted Pope Francis saying, "The shepherd has to have the smell of his sheep and be available to his flock at all times." Cardinal further added in Pope Francis's words, "Be a missionary disciple. This could be something that you should try and work on through your priesthood to be missionary disciples."
"Pope Francis spoke to Priests in the first year that he came to office. He invited Priests to be immensely close to God and to have a personal experience with the Lord," he said, adding, "You must be a disciple who knows the Lord, loves the Lord, enjoys being with the Lord and goes out to give the good news to others. Priests should be in continuous contact with their people who they are sent out to serve."
The Salesian Provincial of Mumbai, Father Godfrey D'Souza thanked the Cardinal for gracing the occasion and the parents of the new priests for generously gifting their sons to God. "My dear parents of the newly ordained, God gave the gift of sons to you and you thought it fit to give back to God. God will take care of you for having given back your sons to God," Father D'Souza said.
"God blessed the province with five new priests. Let us accompany them as they are in the infancy of priesthood and they need our prayers."
Father Shaun D'Lima and Father Mylin Noronha, in a joint Vote of Thanks, expressed their gratitude to their superiors and formators, for helping them in their spiritual journey leading to this day. They also thanked their family for their unflinching support.