On Tuesday 3rd December, a priesthood ordination program was held for Deacon Baddley Devesi of Zone 4, of the Tangarare Parish in West Guadalcanal.
Deacon Devesi is one of the 80 priests ordained by the church to date.
Number of parishioners and other denominations in Tangarare attended the ordination program.
The event, held at Wanderer Bay, was led by His Grace Archbishop Christopher Cardone OP, along with 19 other priests.
Deacon Baddley Devesi was accompanied by members of his family inside the church, with the ordination service being conducted by the most Rev. Archbishop Christopher Michael Cardone.
Archbishop Cordone said that in the ministry of deacon one must celebrate and observe the life of Christ faithfully in their service to the Church.
“Fr Deacon Baddley Devesi you are chosen by God to work in his church and to serve his people, to carry out the work of God.
“Always believe that God will always help you in your work as you serve his people,” Archbishop Cordone told the newly ordained priest,” he said.
Archbishop Cardone shared a powerful message about the importance of the church as the heart of the community and honoured the dedication of everyone who made the day possible. He also highlighted the legacy of St. Francis Xavier and celebrated the growing number of local priests and religious vocations in the Solomon Islands.
“Thanks be to God, when I first came in 1988, there were only 10 local priests. Today, we have over 80 and this is a sign of the Holy Spirit at work,” he shared.
Fr Rev..Baddley Devesi was born on 22 July 1990.
He attended Wanderer Bay primary school and secondary school.
He went to Nazareth Apostolic Centre in 2015- 2016 after completed his studies at Goroka, Papua New Guinea in 2014
He also attended the Holy Name of Seminary for the Bachelor of Theology from 2017 -2023.
Deacon Devesi was ordained deacon at the Holy cross cathedral on 10 February 2024 until his final ordained of order of the priesthood on 3 December 2024.
The day concluded with joyful feasting and entertainment in faith and celebration.
By Jimmy Nolan
Solomon Star Honiara
