DIACONATE ORDINATIONS - "be shepherds with the smell of sheep.."

10 of our Brothers were ordained Deacons by His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith Saturday, 14th of May at the National Basilica of Our Lady of Lanka, Tewatte. Only a few priests participated due to the prevailing situation in the country.

His Eminence in his homily quoting Pope Francis said, “The priest who seldom goes out of himself … misses out on the best of our people, on what can stir the depths of his priestly heart. … This is precisely the reason why some priests grow dissatisfied, lose heart and become in a sense collectors of antiquities or novelties — instead of being shepherds living with ‘the smell of the sheep.’ This is what I am asking you — be shepherds with the smell of sheep.” He stressed that rather than confining to the church and office go to the margins and 'aragala bumia'  to meet the people who are suffering. Be with them to listen and strengthen.