Dimapur, May 7 (MExN): Five Brothers, namely John Thoru (Diocese of Kohima), LS Jonah and DP Luke (Archdiocese of Imphal), Christopher Maroh and Patran Murmu (Archdiocese of Kolkata) were vested with Clerical Habit at Good Shepherd Seminary on May 6 in the presence of priests, religious brothers and sisters, friends and relatives.
The occasion was solemnized with the Holy Mass presided over by Bishop of Kohima, Rev. Dr. James Thoppil. At the commencement, Bishop thanked Fr. Chacko, Rector, Good Shepherd Seminary and all the formators for guiding the brothers. He also thanked the parents and relatives for offering their children at the service of the Lord.
In his homily, he congratulated the brothers for boldly coming forward to get vested in Clerical Habit, which is a step for the stage of formation to Priesthood. “It reminds us of the words of St. Paul to the Ephesians 4: 22-24, ‘Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life… and be renewed in the spirit of your minds and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in the righteousness and holiness’,” the Bishop said, according to a press release.
He further exhorted the brothers that putting on the white garment means “a symbol of interior transformation that is desired”. Emphasizing on being intimate followers of Christ in one’s vocation, Bishop James stressed on three aspects of commitment - permanent, faithful and fruitful. He said permanence calls for continuous dying to oneself and rising in ever greater holiness daily and lifelong; to be faithful is to be united in the persons of the Trinity and in Christ’s spousal love for the Church. He further opined that fruitfulness marks the vocation to commitment in the church and fruitfulness is God’s love.
He assured prayerful support to the newly vested brothers and called upon the congregation to pray for them. The newly vested brothers were facilitated by the inmates of Good Shepherd Seminary with songs and steps.
