A day of profound grace and celebration for the Custody of the Holy Land. Within the setting of the church of St. Saviour in Jerusalem, ten friars were ordained deacons, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their spiritual journey. The mass was presided over by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and concelebrated by the Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Ielpo, together with the friars of the Custody.

The beginning of a new mission

The rite opened with the presentation of the candidates by the Custos, Fr. Ielpo. The friars then prostrated themselves on the ground before the altar, joining the assembly in invoking the intercession of all the Saints. The climax of the liturgy was reached with the laying on of hands by the Patriarch, the solemn act that sealed the ordination after the friars, through their solemn profession, had already consecrated their lives to Christ following the rule of the Order of Friars Minor.

Thanks to the live streaming on the Facebook channels of the Custody of the Holy Land and the Christian Media Center, relatives and friends from every corner of the world were able to witness this important transition in the lives of the new deacons, and participate with them in prayer.

The words of the Patriarch: "You will never be alone"

During the homily, His Beatitude Pizzaballa addressed the newly ordained with touching words, rooted in the deep heart of the Holy Land: "Today, in this city where the Lord walked, died, and rose again, you are the ones who are being sent. You receive the diaconal ministry to be His servants. The Lord does not hide from you the fatigue of the mission. He does not promise you that you will not fall. He promises you something much greater: that you will never be alone. The Father is present precisely there where our fragility, our weakness, our fall seem to have the last word. The truth that will be revealed is God's faithfulness, his presence, his care."

Fearless servants of charity

In his homily, the Patriarch outlined the profile of the deacon, recalling them to the essence of their ministry: being authentic "servants of charity", constantly attentive to the least and the most fragile.

"You will be the eyes and hands of the Church that bends over the wounds of humanity. And in this service, the Lord asks you to be transparent: the charity you announce is not philanthropy, it is the reflection of the love of Christ who made himself a servant first. Be, therefore, deacons who know how to wash feet, as the Master did, without fear of getting your hands dirty."

The thanks of the new deacons

At the conclusion of the celebration, one of the new deacons, on behalf of everyone, read a letter of profound thanks, in which he expressed himself with these words: "We wish to express our most sincere gratitude to His Beatitude Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who wished to confer on us the Order of the Diaconate. Thank you for your paternal closeness, for your prayers, and for the witness of your ministry, which encourages us to live our calling with generosity. We address a heartfelt thank you to the Most Reverend Father Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Ielpo, for his guidance, his support, and his constant attention towards us. May the Lord abundantly reward his service."

The newly appointed deacons also wished to thank their families, for having raised them in the sign of the Catholic faith, the custodial vicar Ulises Zarza, for his constant encouragement, Fr. Sergio Duarte Gois, for having guided them in the spiritual exercises, and finally the provincial ministers and guardians of the communities who welcomed them with open arms.