Jonathan Rao ordained deacon

Aug 02, 2024

By Mercy Almeida Stellus
After 27 years, the parish community of the Church of St Jude was elated to host an ordination ceremony once again, as seminarian Jonathan Andrew Rao, pic, was ordained a deacon on July 20 by Most Rev Julian Leow, Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur.

Present were clergy, religious and parishioners from near and far who had come to witness the diaconal ordination of the 52-year-old seminarian from the Church of St Francis of Assisi, Cheras.

It was a communal celebration as preparations began a month in advance, with parish priest, Fr Vincent Thomas, and his committee working diligently to organise the event.

At the end of the celebration, organising committee chairperson, Dr Grace Gnana Piragasam thanked all the different committees for their dedication and hard work. She thanked all those people who came together to prepare for the celebration. She thanked Fr Michel Dass for playing a crucial role in ensuring the smooth flow of the liturgy and the ordination rites.

In his speech, the newly ordained deacon expressed his gratitude to his mother, Madam Jeya Mary, who was his prayer warrior. He thanked his family members, his peers, the clergy and religious whom he had worked and journeyed with, not forgetting the parishioners of the various churches he had worked in.

Deacon Jonathan also expressed his gratitude to Fr Vincent, the parishioners of the Church of St Jude and the Chapel of St Michael in Batu Arang for their support, guidance, love and prayers. He also thanked his rectors and the seminarians whom he had journeyed with.

As Deacon Jonathan embarks on a new chapter of his life, may his ministry be a source of inspiration and blessing to all who encounter him as he continues to embody the spirit of service that lies at the heart of his diaconal vocation.

A sumptuous lunch was prepared for everyone at the end of the celebration.