Four new deacons were ordained by Archbishop Charles Scicluna during a Mass at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta on Saturday.

The four new deacons are: Rev. Matthew Sammut from the Parish of the Resurrected Christ in Pembroke; Rev. Johan Bugeja, a Salesian of Don Bosco; and Rev. Tian Ci Shawn Dominic Wong from Singapore and Rev. Jerome Savioraj Barnabas from India, who are students of the Institute for World Evangelisation - ICPE Mission.

The concelebrants included the Apostolic Nuncio Savio Hon Tai-Fai, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi, Bishop Emeritus of Garissa Joseph Alessandro OFM Cap, and several diocesan and religious priests.

In his homily, Scicluna encouraged the new deacons to remain strong in their faith and relationship with Jesus through prayer.

"Prayer is the foundation of your relationship with God, the foundation of your mission, and the foundation of your perseverance," Scicluna said.

Through today's ordination, he continued, these four young men affirm, like Jesus, their desire to be of service to every person in the community, to serve the Church, and to proclaim and be witnesses of the Word of God.

The Archbishop also noted that today's ordination of two Maltese and two others from Singapore and India reflects the beautiful and universal face of the Catholic Church and the Christian faith.

Through this ordination, the new deacons become servants of Jesus Christ and servants of all, a Curia statement read.

“They dedicate their lives to serving the people with love, assisting the bishop and priests in holy celebrations, especially the Eucharist, administering the sacraments of baptism, assisting in marriage celebrations and blessings, proclaiming and carrying out the Gospel, and leading funeral prayers,” it said.