BIS #5690 THEY SERVED WITH LOVE AND FIDELITY - JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS

by Father Joaquim Fernandes



MUMBAI, NOV 12, 2018: The Salesian Province of Mumbai celebrated the jubilees  of the Ordination and Religious Profession of thirteen priests at the Shrine of Don Bosco’s Madonna, Matunga, Mumbai on November 10.

Father Boniface D’Souza, who celebrated his Diamond Jubilee of Religious Profession and Golden Jubilee of Ordination celebrated Holy Mass along with Father Godfrey D’Souza, Salesian Provincial of Mumbai and other jubilarians. Also present were their families, friends, and the Salesian fraternity.

The priests celebrating their jubilees were : Father John Samala, Golden Jubilee of Ordination, Father Mario Vaz, Golden Jubilee of Religious Profession, Fathers Allwyn Misquitta, Ashley Miranda, Barnabe D’Souza, Derrick Misquitta, James Nigrel, and Jeffrey Fernandes, Silver Jubilee of Ordination, and Fathers George Miranda, Ranald Lopes, Vinod Mascarenhas, and Wyman Gonsalves, Silver Jubilee of Religious Profession.

“We need to be witnesses to the commitment and fidelity of God’s love for the young. Thank you, dear and loving God, for this life of love I have been given for the past 25, 50 and 60 years living as a priest or as a Salesian of Don Bosco. Today we count the blessing which the Lord has showered on each one of us. The blessing of our Salesian vocation, Salesian communities, family, and friends and our Salesian apostolate to lead us in holiness and to be signs and bearers of God’s love to the marginalised young,” Father Mario Vaz, said in his homily. “The Lord has enabled us to be instruments of His love and the stewards of his mercy. He chose us to bear lasting fruits (Jn 15:16).”



Salesian Provincial Father Godfrey D’Souza during the felicitation programme thanked the jubilarians for their commitment and dedication and answering God’s call to serve the young the Don Bosco way. “We are reminded that jubilees are milestones on the journey of life and our jubilarians serve as reminders of God’s fidelity all through. They have by their very lives tried to spread the fragrance of God’s love, compassion, mercy, joy, and healing to the people in the various places and communities they have ministered."

"Every person has a vocation, a call from God, a call to holiness. The challenge is to identify your call, which is very personal to each one of you. The Holy Father asked priests to contemplate two hearts: the heart of the Good Shepherd who reaches out to us, above all to those who are most distant,” Father Godfrey D’Souza, said. He then presented the citation to each of the jubilarians.

Congratulations to all the jubilarians, who have devotedly served God and His people.