"Today, in truth, is a memorable day for all of you: both for the seventeen that with the diaconate become part of the clergy, consecrating their lives to the service of the Church, and, especially, for the four deacons who are to receive the Order of Priesthood." With these words Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, spoke to the 21 students of the Pontifical Urban College "de Propaganda Fide", from Africa, Asia, America and Oceania, during the Mass for the ordination of priests and deacons which he presided at the Vatican Basilica on Saturday afternoon, May 12 (see Fides 12/05/2012).

Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, will preside this afternoon at 3pm, in the Vatican Basilica, a Mass with the ordinations of Priests and Deacons of 21 students of the Pontifical Urban College "de Propaganda Fide". Of the 4 newly priests, 3 are from China and one from Cameroon. The 17 deacons: 5 from Africa (Burundi; Ghana, Mali, Uganda); 10 from Asia (China, Korea, Vietnam); 1 from America (Haiti), 1 from Oceania (Papua New Guinea).

"Gift of God's Love" was the theme of the prayer meeting sponsored by the Diocese of Hong Kong on the occasion of the International Day of Prayer for Vocations, which took place on April 28 in the meeting room of Caritas Hong Kong. During the meeting, sponsored by the Commission for Vocations of the Diocese, priests and men and women religious encouraged young people to respond the Lord's call, demonstrating the ability to discern God's gift to draw strength from faith and respond with courage to the call.

Somascans Mark Anniversary of Founder's Conversion

In the church of Saints Boniface and Alessio (Saint Alessio of the Aventine) on one of Rome’s seven hills, a jubilee will begin Friday to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the conversion of St. Jerome Emiliani.

The saint founded the Somascan Fathers (CRS), who work with  young people in difficulties. The congregation has schools, family homes and structures to help orphans, youth drug addicts, and those carrying out alternative sentences to imprisonment. They work with youngsters in 20 different countries, in several of which they have homes for street children.