The Province celebrated a day of profound thanksgiving and joy as two of its clerics, Deacon Npenme Haisuilube SDB and Deacon Soren Dominic SDB, were ordained to the Sacred Order of the Diaconate at Sacred Heart Theological College (SHTC), Mawlai, Shillong, on 1 July 2026.
The sacred ordination was conferred by Most Rev. John Moolachira, D.D., Archbishop of Guwahati, who ordained 18 deacons from various religious congregations and dioceses during a solemn Eucharistic celebration attended by bishops, priests, religious, family members, and faithful from across the Northeast.
In a deeply inspiring homily based on Jeremiah 1:4–9, Acts 6:1–7, and Luke 10:1–9, Archbishop John Moolachira reminded the ordinands that every vocation originates in God’s loving initiative. Quoting the prophet Jeremiah, he said, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born, I consecrated you.” He encouraged the deacons not to fear their weaknesses, adding, “You are not being ordained because you possess every virtue or pastoral skill. You are ordained because Christ has chosen you, and He promises to remain with you.”
Reflecting on the ministry of the diaconate, the Archbishop emphasized that a deacon is much more than an assistant to a priest. “A deacon is an ordained minister configured to Christ the Servant. Behind all your ministries stands one central identity: you are servants.” He reminded them that authentic service often means “accepting unnoticed tasks, listening patiently, accompanying difficult people, sacrificing personal preferences, and giving time generously,” noting that while people may applaud the preacher, “heaven rejoices over the servant.”
Drawing from the Gospel, Archbishop Moolachira highlighted that Jesus sent His disciples two by two, stressing that ministry is never an individual enterprise. “Fraternity is not an optional extra; it is part of your witness,” he said, urging the new deacons to live and work joyfully with their religious communities. He also encouraged them to embrace evangelical poverty and trust, reminding them that the Lord sends His disciples as “lambs among wolves” and that the Church today needs “ministers who are courageous without being aggressive, joyful without being superficial, and faithful without becoming rigid.”
Addressing the challenges awaiting them in pastoral ministry, the Archbishop exhorted the deacons to approach people with compassion and truth. “You will meet people who struggle with faith, young people who question everything, families burdened by suffering, and individuals carrying hidden wounds. Approach them with truth and certainty, but always with gentleness.”
He also reflected on the evangelical counsels, urging the ordinands to treasure the gifts of celibacy and obedience. Calling celibacy “a sign of your complete dedication to Christ and His Church,” he encouraged them to guard this vocation through prayer, self-discipline, and a deep friendship with Jesus. On obedience, he reminded them that “through obedience, you learn to place God’s will above personal preference and to serve the mission of the Church rather than your own ambitions.”
Referring to the rite of ordination, Archbishop Moolachira recalled the Church’s exhortation to every deacon: “Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you now are. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practise what you teach.” He urged them to become men deeply rooted in God’s Word so that the Gospel they proclaim may transform the lives of those who hear it.
Concluding his homily, the Archbishop encouraged the newly ordained deacons to live their ministry wholeheartedly by befriending the poor, proclaiming the Gospel with conviction, praying the Liturgy of the Hours faithfully, serving reverently at the altar, listening more than speaking, and working joyfully with their confreres. He concluded with a powerful reminder: “Remember that you are first a disciple before becoming a minister, a servant before becoming a leader, and a brother before becoming a superior.”
The Salesian Province of Guwahati thanks Sacred Heart Theological College, Mawlai for guiding the deacons and the brothers of the province.
