Fifteen Jesuits–14 from Arrupe International Residence and one from Loyola House of Studies–were ordained on October 27 at the Church of the Gesù, Ateneo de Manila campus in Quezon City, Philippines.

Family, friends, and members of religious communities gathered bright and early on that Saturday morning to witness the diaconal ordination, with Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of the Diocese of Kalookan presiding. During his homily, Bishop David mentioned the three ranks of the ordained ministries: the diaconate, the presbyterate, and the episcopate. “Today I invite you to think of them not as ranks,” said Bishop David, “but as building blocks of the ordained ministry. They build on each other. Or even better, you may think of them as layers of concentric circles, with the diaconate at the very core.” The diaconate is the foundation on which the Church builds its leadership–a leadership that serves.

The solemn rites were celebrated with music from Tinig Barangka Choir led by Scholastic Dom Bulan SJ and accompanied by Fr Arnel Aquino SJ.  The altar was carefully decorated with flower arrangements by the Vietnamese sisters. After the ordination, the new deacons and their guests gathered at the covered courts for refreshments.