On June 3, 2016, on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Deacon Sergio Shoiti Matumoto, SCJ, was ordained priest. The ceremony of ordination was held at the Paróquia Nossa Senhora de Lourdes (Our lady of Lourdes Parish) in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil, run by the Priests of the Sacred Heart and was presided by the Most Rev. Vilsom Basso, SCJ, bishop of Caxias in Maranhão, Brazil.
Prior to this, the parish had a three-day special preparation for this event from May 31 – June 2, 2016. Just before the ordination Fr. Sergio shared in his email “I am really blessed to be ordained on our great Feast! I am a little nervous, anxious, feeling unworthy of such wonderful grace, I know I don’t deserve it and I am afraid not to correspond to so great grace but on the other hand I am very happy of being chosen by God a sinner who experienced God’s merciful love. … I hope to be a real Priest of the SACRED HEART OF JESUS; I hope to be a prophet of love and a minister of Reconciliation wherever you send me.”
The ceremony of ordination of Fr. Sergio, which was live streaming over the internet, started at 7:30 PM (6:30 AM – June 4, 2016, Manila Time) and lasted for more than two hours. The celebration was attended by many SCJs from the BSP Province and friends. The Philippine Region was represented by Fr. Aloisio Back, SCJ. In his thanksgiving speech, the newly ordained priest greeted the Philippines in English and Tagalog.
