On Wednesday, February 12, 2020, the friars of the Province of Mary Immaculate in Indonesia thanked the Lord for the diaconal ordination of three confreres: Friars Maximilianus Satra Graha GINTING, Ludofikus Suban HAYONG and Samuel SIMANGUNGSONG. The ordinations were held before a large and attentive assembly at the Church of St. John Paul II in Namo Pecawir, Medan-North Sumatra.

The celebration was presided over by the Most Reverend Kornelius SIPAYUNG, OFM Cap., Archbishop of Medan, Indonesia. Also present was the Most Reverend A. G. Pius DATUBARA, OFM Cap., Archbishop Emeritus of Medan, who turned 86 that day. About forty priests concelebrated, almost all of them from the Province of Indonesia.
In his homily, the Archbishop spoke about the duties of deacons as explained in the document Lumen Gentium, and he emphasized the importance of prayer and the Word of God. He said that, in fact, every “servant” must have the heart of God, and for this he must live in intimate relationship with the Lord, through prayer and by listening to the Word.
After the Mass, all those present were invited to a thanksgiving feast which featured dinner, songs and dances provided by the faithful, the student friars of the post-novitiate in Pematangsiantar and the postulants in Tiga Juhar. Everyone participated in the joy of fraternity and gave thanks to the Lord for the gift of these confreres.
May these new deacons proclaim the Gospel in the joy of the Lord Jesus, and serve the people with the simplicity of our Seraphic Father.

Friar Fictorium Natanael GINTING