At St. Peter Institute, Viterbo (Italy) this year the Solemnity of St. Joseph had a special tone for the diaconal ordination of five confreres, from four continents:

Abhilash Baisil (India)

Alessandro Palladino (Italy)

Bernard Asomaning Manu (Ghana)

Richard Dweku Donkor (Ghana)

Sebastián Martínez Vera (Chile).

H. E. Lino Fumagalli, bishop of Viterbo, laid his hands upon them, consecrating them to the service of the Gospel and charity, which they will exercise for a few months - completing in the meantime their theological studies - waiting to become priests. In his homily, the bishop, taking the cue from the figure of St. Joseph, patron of the Congregation, summed up the service of the deacon as "taking care" of the people he meets, and of the Word of God that the deacon is called to proclaim.

St. Peter church was full of relatives, friends, fellow students, and parishioners. The parish choir animated the ceremony, prepared with solemn sobriety by Fr. Pino Fossati.

There were Fr. Renzo Sibona, Italian provincial, and father general Mario Aldegani, who in his address of thanks noted that Saint Leonardo Murialdo founded the Congregation 142 years ago.

A tasty buffet, crowned by custom cakes, made by the excellent cooks of the Institute, then ended the day.