This Sunday, Oct. 3, at 2 p.m. at Holy Cross, Cardinal Maurice E. Piat will ordain Jean-Patrick Polydor a priest and George Othello a permanent deacon. Despite the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the Diocese of Port Louis is preparing to celebrate this double ordination with joy.
The event will be attended by a maximum of 100 people, as required by health measures. However, the public will be able to follow the celebration on the MBC and on the CAPAV Facebook page at 2:00 pm.
Jean-Patrick and George are both members of the Spiritan Congregation (the congregation to which Father Laval belonged). In preparation for the ordinations, Holy Cross Parish has prepared a novena of prayer for 7 days (September 29 to October 2). The novena can be followed live on the Holy Cross parish Facebook page
Jean-Patrick Polydor
Jean-Patrick Polydor will be the 174th Mauritian priest. Originally from Sainte-Croix, Jean-Patrick comes from a very religious family, where prayer and parish and community involvement have always been important. At a very young age, he took his place in the Christian community through the choir and liturgical animation and later, he became involved with children for school support.
The youngest of four children, he studied at the Collège du Saint-Esprit. After graduation, he took a job in a bank but realized after three years that the Lord had other plans for him. He reread his life story and realized that what would make him truly happy was to dedicate his life to serving the poor. In 2010, he resigned from his position and began his discernment which took him to Madagascar, Tanzania and Senegal.
After completing his studies, Jean-Patrick took his perpetual vows and was ordained deacon on August 1st and 2nd, 2020 in Dakar, Senegal. Since his return to Mauritius, he has been working at St. John’s Parish as an intern.
George Othello
George Othello, originally from Tranquebar, comes from a family of twelve, five brothers and five sisters. He began working at the age of 17 as a machine operator and took up judo as his sport of choice. He admits that judo “has helped me maintain a balance in my life, it is a school of discipline that helps me grow”. He has shared his judo experience with youth at the Rehabilitation Youth Centre in Beau-Bassin and the Foyer Père Laval.
George Othello has also been involved for over twenty-five years as a facilitator at the Terre-Rouge Reception Center to help young people get out of alcohol and drug addiction: “The Word of God and contact with my brothers and sisters who are addicted have made me understand that only one can fall into addiction, but alone one cannot get out of this hell of alcohol and drugs. Because only the Creator can help us get out of it.
