MATUNGA, OCTOBER 29, 2009: It was an evening adorned in silver and gold as seven Salesians from the Mumbai Province celebrated their jubilees on 28th October: Fr. Mathew Thalanany, Golden Jubilee of Ordination; Fr. Colbert da Silva, Fr. Edwin D’Souza and Fr. Ronald Menezes, Silver Jubilee of Ordination; and Fr. Bernard Fernandes, Fr. Derrick Misquitta and Fr. Roger Jones, Silver Jubilee of Religious Profession.
The evening began with a solemn Eucharistic celebration at 6.00 p.m. in the Shrine of Don Bosco’s Madonna at Matunga, presided over by Fr. Mathew Thalanany. Salesians from different parts of the province, the family and relatives of the jubilarians, and a large number of friends and well wishers joined the jubilarians in thanking God for the many blessings they had received during their golden or silver years. A visibly emotional Fr. Thalanany recalled at the start of the Eucharist how he had personally experienced God’s guidance and support during his long years of priestly ministry. He also reminisced, with much nostalgia, the pastoral services he had rendered, both, in the Shrine at Matunga and in the neighbouring slum areas. Fr. Ronald Menezes, delivering the homily, quoted the words of St. Peter to Jesus at the time of the transfiguration: ‘It is good to be here’. He said that this phrase well echoed the feelings of all the jubilarians—it certainly felt very good to be priests and religious.
After the Eucharist, a felicitation dinner was held in the school hall. Fr. Edison Fernandes, the compere for the evening, had everyone in splits with his quick wit and humour. A highlight of the dinner was the toast raised by Fr. Michael Fernandes, Provincial. Speaking at length about each of the jubilarians, he focused on their personal qualities, the ministry they had been involved in and their contribution to the province. The toast was followed by the cutting of the cake and the presentation of the mementos to the jubilarians. Finally, Fr. Bernard Fernandes, speaking on behalf of the jubilarians, proposed the vote of thanks.