Prakash Nathan
SATPUR, FEBRUARY 10, 2010: On February 7, 2010 the renovated church of St. Dominic Savio, Satpur was inaugurated. The programme began with a prayer of blessing in Marathi by Fr. Nelson Falcao, Parish Priest. After the prayer a 14 feet statue, a copy of the one at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was unveiled by the Salesian Vice-Provincial, Fr. Ajoy Fernandes and the ribbon was cut by Mr. Elias Marshall D’Souza who along with his brother Richard have been the main donors for this renovation project. Fr. Ajoy handed over the key of the newly installed tabernacle Fr. Nelson. About five to six hundred people were present from Satpur as well as from Don Bosco, College Road and from all the neighbouring parishes. After the blessing the faithful and the nine concelebrants proceeded to the sanctuary of the Church. The main celebrant was Fr. Maurice Henriques, S.J. The sanctuary has undergone a major interior decoration with a new wooden ceiling, a wooden background made of Burma Teak, a new wooden tabernacle, a new altar in the shape of open hands, 14 feet high cross and a baptismal font.
The Eucharistic celebration was followed by the felicitation programme wherein the main benefactors of the renovation project, 15 priests, the architect and contractors were felicitated. The fellowship meal which followed was sponsored by the D’Souza Brothers in loving memory of their parents, Mr. Marshall and Mrs. Christin D’Souza.
Thanks to the D’Souza brothers and their families, all the priests, Parish Council members, the Mahila Mandal and the Youth Group which worked very hard so that the faithful of Satpur get a Church which looks more prayerful and which would help in building up of devotion.