Janet D’Souza
WADALA, JUNE 29, 2008: A long cherished dream of the Our Lady of Dolours Parish, Wadala, turned into a reality this morning with the launching of the ‘Dolours Centre for Empowerment’ (DCE). The DCE office was inaugurated by Fr. Anaclete D’Mello at 9.00 am in the presence of Parish Priest Fr. Aloysius Furtado, Assistant Parish Priest Fr. Tony Pinto, Parish Councilors and a large number of parishioners. Before cutting the ribbon and declaring the DCE open, Fr. Anaclete reminded the gathering that taking this Centre forward was the task of the laity. The DCE will be the Parish Centre for Community Organization (CCO), a feature adopted by many parishes in the Mumbai Archdiocese. It is the responsibility of the CCO to pan and implement social development programmes in the parish. Prior to the inauguration, a thanksgiving Eucharist was celebrated at 8.00 am in the parish church. The principal celebrant was Fr. Savio Silveira and he was joined by Fr. Tony Pinto. During the homily, Fr. Savio called on the parishioners to make a personal commitment towards the 
cause of social development in the parish area and in the city of Mumbai. Quoting the words of St. Paul – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race” – he said that each one should feel the personal responsibility of being involved in social issues, irrespective of whether others join in or not. At the end of the Eucharistic celebration a short felicitation programme was held in the church to thank those who had been instrumental in launching the social work initiatives in the parish. Mr. Melvin Pangya and Ms. Surekha Pednekar, staff members of Don Bosco Development Society, were thanked for the role they had played in getting the first Self Help Groups organized in the parish during these past few months. Eleven women from the Self Help Groups who had recently participated in the Entrepreneurship Development Programme were awarded certificates. These women have also received training in Soap, Phenyle and Candle making and after Mass they proudly displayed their products for all to see. The empowerment of the poor and disadvantaged in our parish has clearly begun!
WADALA, JUNE 29, 2008: A long cherished dream of the Our Lady of Dolours Parish, Wadala, turned into a reality this morning with the launching of the ‘Dolours Centre for Empowerment’ (DCE). The DCE office was inaugurated by Fr. Anaclete D’Mello at 9.00 am in the presence of Parish Priest Fr. Aloysius Furtado, Assistant Parish Priest Fr. Tony Pinto, Parish Councilors and a large number of parishioners. Before cutting the ribbon and declaring the DCE open, Fr. Anaclete reminded the gathering that taking this Centre forward was the task of the laity. The DCE will be the Parish Centre for Community Organization (CCO), a feature adopted by many parishes in the Mumbai Archdiocese. It is the responsibility of the CCO to pan and implement social development programmes in the parish. Prior to the inauguration, a thanksgiving Eucharist was celebrated at 8.00 am in the parish church. The principal celebrant was Fr. Savio Silveira and he was joined by Fr. Tony Pinto. During the homily, Fr. Savio called on the parishioners to make a personal commitment towards the 
cause of social development in the parish area and in the city of Mumbai. Quoting the words of St. Paul – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race” – he said that each one should feel the personal responsibility of being involved in social issues, irrespective of whether others join in or not. At the end of the Eucharistic celebration a short felicitation programme was held in the church to thank those who had been instrumental in launching the social work initiatives in the parish. Mr. Melvin Pangya and Ms. Surekha Pednekar, staff members of Don Bosco Development Society, were thanked for the role they had played in getting the first Self Help Groups organized in the parish during these past few months. Eleven women from the Self Help Groups who had recently participated in the Entrepreneurship Development Programme were awarded certificates. These women have also received training in Soap, Phenyle and Candle making and after Mass they proudly displayed their products for all to see. The empowerment of the poor and disadvantaged in our parish has clearly begun!