Ranald Lopes sdb
CHHOTA UDEPUR, JUNE 16, 2008: While the rest of the Salesian world celebrated the death centenary of Don Bosco in 1988, anxiety reigned high in the frontier lands of the Mumbai Province. Th
e future of the Salesian centre at Chhota Udepur was on shaky ground after a heinous conspiracy to destroy it had seen its pioneer, Fr. Byron D’Silva, being imprisoned on murder charges. To set it back on an unbeatable course, the then provincial selected a band of indomitable men to defend its ramparts. And among those men was Fr. Elson Barretto - measuring well over six feet in height and a hundred kilos in weight. For 12 years Fr. Elson laboured in the remote villages of those hinterlands and made Don Bosco synonymous with the education and development of the Rathwas. In the year 2000 when he was transferred from there, the tribals bidding him farewell prophesied: “Your tryst with Rathwaland is not over”. They were proved right as Fr. Elson once again took up the reins of Chhota Udepur this Saturday. At a simple but solemn ceremony, the Provincial Fr. Michael Fernandes installed Fr. Elson as Rector of Don Bosco Chhota Udepur on June 14. Present for the occasion were several Salesians from across Gujarat. After the official ceremony, Fr. Elson released a dove, signifying his desire of seeing Chhota continue flying high. Under his leadership, the Salesian of Chhota are confident of scaling new heights! Later in the evening, the Provincial presented driving licences to 25 youth who had recently completed a two months driving course. This course was part of the ongoing Skills Training Programme being held at Chhota Udepur.
e future of the Salesian centre at Chhota Udepur was on shaky ground after a heinous conspiracy to destroy it had seen its pioneer, Fr. Byron D’Silva, being imprisoned on murder charges. To set it back on an unbeatable course, the then provincial selected a band of indomitable men to defend its ramparts. And among those men was Fr. Elson Barretto - measuring well over six feet in height and a hundred kilos in weight. For 12 years Fr. Elson laboured in the remote villages of those hinterlands and made Don Bosco synonymous with the education and development of the Rathwas. In the year 2000 when he was transferred from there, the tribals bidding him farewell prophesied: “Your tryst with Rathwaland is not over”. They were proved right as Fr. Elson once again took up the reins of Chhota Udepur this Saturday. At a simple but solemn ceremony, the Provincial Fr. Michael Fernandes installed Fr. Elson as Rector of Don Bosco Chhota Udepur on June 14. Present for the occasion were several Salesians from across Gujarat. After the official ceremony, Fr. Elson released a dove, signifying his desire of seeing Chhota continue flying high. Under his leadership, the Salesian of Chhota are confident of scaling new heights! Later in the evening, the Provincial presented driving licences to 25 youth who had recently completed a two months driving course. This course was part of the ongoing Skills Training Programme being held at Chhota Udepur.