Diaconate Ordination of Alessandro Lippolis and Michele Santoro

Barletta, ITALY: The diaconate ordination of our brothers Alessandro Lippolis and Michele Santoro took place in the ancient sanctuary of Maria Santissima of Sterpeto in Barletta, on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

A sign of hope and trust in this time marked by uncertainty due to the health and social crisis generated by the coronavirus! Two of our brothers willing to serve the Church, to announce the Gospel of love and to put their lives at the service of their brothers. This is what they promised in the hands of Mons. Leonardo D’Ascenzo, the bishop of Trani Barletta Bisceglie, who presided over the celebration.

Alessandro and Michele of Ceglie del Campo and Solofra respectively, on their way to the priesthood, now offer their diaconate service in the communities of Lourdes, Rome, and Solofra.

Our Superior General Fr. Jan Pelczarski addressed them at the end of the celebration, wishing them to be great not according to the logic of the world, but according to that of the Gospel. One is, in fact, great who is capable of loving because he has overcome self-centeredness; to serve because he has overcome the temptation to use others to achieve his own ends; and finally, he is great who has a generous, merciful and humble heart. In short, great is the one who resembles Jesus and who lives according to the spirit of the Gospel. This is the wish that we too address to our brothers, so that they carry out in their service as deacons the corporal and spiritual works of mercy that the Gospel make resound as a way to the fullness of life.