Church of St Peter witnesses its first ever double sacerdotal ordination of Deacons

Oct 14, 2015

By Percy D’Cruz
The Church of St Peter witnessed its first ever double sacerdotal ordination of Deacons Adrian Francis Mathews and John Kelvin Pereira on Oct 1.

The Eucharistic celebration in English, Mandarin and Tamil drew a thousand members of the faithful from Kuala Lumpur, Klang, Seremban, Kuching, Johor and Melaka. Also present were 56 priests, deacons, brothers and religious from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines. Archbishop Julian Leow, Bishops Paul Tan, Richard Ng from Miri, Simon Poh from Kuching, and Emeriti Soter Fernandez and James Chan were also present.

The entrance procession was to the accompaniment of a three-member Chinese Drum troupe from St Francis’ Institution. There was also a traditional Indian ceremonial welcome by six female youths from the chapels of the Holy Spirit in Jasin, St James in Merlimau and St Anne in Alor Gajah.

The Rite of Ordination commenced immediately following the Gospel reading. The Melaka-Johore diocese Chancellor, Msgr James Rajendran, presented the candidates to Bishop Paul.

Bishop Tan remarked that the whole ordination proceedings is a ‘homily’ in itself, saying that the entire people of God is being made into a royal priesthood in Christ. “But our great Priest Himself, Jesus Christ, also chooses some of his disciples to carry out publicly, in the Church, a priestly office in His name, on behalf of the human race.

For Christ was sent by the Father, and He himself sent the apostles into the world, so that through them and their successors, the Bishops, He might continue to exercise His office of teacher, priest and Shepherd,” he noted.

In summing up, Bishop Paul said, “Finally dearly beloved sons, for your part, as you exercise the office of Christ, Head and Shepherd, while united with the Bishop and subject to him, strive to bring the faithful together into one family, so that you may lead them to God the Father through Christ in the Holy Spirit. Keep always before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd, who came not to be served but to serve, and who came to seek out and save what was lost.”

Following the homily, the ordination ceremony continued, with the Promise of the Elect, Litany of Supplication, Laying On Of Hands, Prayer of Consecration, Investiture With Stole and Chasuble and Anointing of Hands, Presentation of the Gifts and the Kiss of Peace. The newly ordained priests then assisted in the Liturgy of the Eucharist and distributed Holy Communion. Before the final blessings, both Frs Adrian and Kelvin gave short speeches thanking all the local parishioners, priests and the combined organising team of St Peter and St Francis Xavier for supporting and working tirelessly to ensure a holy and meaningful ordination celebration.

They also thanked the priests, the religious and the seminarians and the lay faithful who came from far and near to attend the ordination ceremony. The two new priests also thanked their parents and family members who guided and prayed for them. They also had words of praise and appreciation for their seminary rectors and formators.

They expressed gratitude and appreciation to Bishop Tan for his role in making them men of goodwill, filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom.

Fr Adrian, 39, the youngest child in the family, hails from Seremban. He had his early education at St Paul’s Institution and entered the College General Major Seminary to begin his initiation year and philosophical studies in 2001.

He then furthered his priestly studies at St Francis Xavier Major Seminary in Singapore, before leaving for the Loyola School of Theology in Manila to pursue theological studies. He was elevated in mid-2015 as a deacon. He undertook pastoral work and duties at St Peter’s Church beginning in mid 2015 and will still be attached to this parish for his priestly duties and related obligations.

Fr Kelvin, 38, the youngest among four siblings, is from Sentul, Kuala Lumpur. His early education was also at Sentul. He joined the St Francis Major Seminary in Singapore in 2005 for two years before continuing seminary studies at St Peter’s College, Kuching. Upon being raised to a deacon in mid-2015, he assisted at Johor Bahru’s Immaculate Conception Cathedral where he will continue his priestly work.