Scholastic Nithin Lisbon Coelho was ordained to the diaconate by Auxiliary Bishop of Tokyo Andrea Lembo in St Mary’s Chapel of St Ignatius Church on 14 March, with many Jesuits and others concelebrating.
Among the faithful attending were friends from his regency in Kōbe and from his regular ministry at Kōenji parish in Tokyo. Fr Pratap Chandru, Karnataka Province Coordinator for Formation and Vocation Promotion, came from India as representative of the Karnataka Provincial.
Superior of Wakamiya Scholasticate Fr Juan Haidar, Deacon Nithin Coelho, Bishop Andrea Lembo, Japanese Provincial Fr Tsutomu Sakuma, and Fr Pratap Chandru
Deacon Nithin did his pre-university studies in maths and science in Mangalore and, after entering the Karnataka Province of the Society, did two years of philosophy studies at Centre Sèvres in Paris. He came to the Japan Province in November 2020.
His ordination to the priesthood is scheduled for 12 September this year.
