PEDONG, 28 April: Deacon Benjamin B Tamang of St. Thomas Parish, Gangtok, has been ordained the first Catholic priest from Gangtok. He is the second Diocesan priest from Sikkim, after Fr. Robin Kalikotey of St. Mary’s Parish, Gyalshing, who was ordained at a special function held at Namchi Public School last year.
Deacon Benjamin Tamang and other six deacons were ordained priests by Rev. Bishop Stephen Lepcha of Darjeeling-Sikkim Diocese in a ceremony organized at St. George’s Senior Secondary School, Pedong, yesterday.
Earlier, homage was paid to Sri Sathya Sai Baba on behalf of the Diocese and two minutes silence observed to mourn his death. The priests ordained yesterday, are: Boniface Rai, St. Teresa’s Parish Kalimpong; Marcelenus Sukdhen Lepcha, Vijaya Rani Parish, Maria Basti; Pradeep Austine Rai, Lolay Parish; Stephen Lepcha, Vijaya Rani Parish, Maria Basti; David Rai, Damsang, Pedong; Benjamin B Tamang , St. Thomas’ Parish Gangtok, and Michael Singh, Vijaya Rani Parish , Maria basti.
