AHMEDNAGAR, OCTOBER 22, 2010: Rev. Fr Maria Arokiam Kanaga was welcomed with a bouquet of roses by Fr Briston Britto on October 19 at 9.00 am & by the confreres of St Anne’s Ahmednagar after his trip form Pune. A south Indian breakfast with idlis, vadas, chutney and sambar was followed by an introductory conference. Next, Fr Maria visited the neighboring Carmelite Sisters of Trivandrum for brunch. A tour of the projects on site, e.g. the St Anne’s church, DB community college was followed by meeting the confreres personally. After lunch, he proceeded to St John’s Bhingar and spent the evening there meeting the confreres, celebrating Mass and addressing the various groups of the parish.
After supper, he proceeded for the night rest to BGVK. There, he met the confreres, staff, visited a Mahaldara village & inaugurated the Gobar Gas Unit at BGVK.
In the evening after tea, he returned to St Anne’s and celebrated the Eucharist for the parishioners. Tree plantation was done at his hands in presence of large gathering. He met the various groups, listened to them and addressed the gathering. Then, he addressed all the confreres in a concluding conference that was followed by supper.
In his final exhortation, he communicated in the words of Leslie C. Aguilar that “Just one person taking action can inspire others to do the same.” BGVK’s water harvesting technology is the need of the hour in neighboring Africa. Rural Community Radio’s ‘Airwaves for the poor & voiceless’ is the need of the hour in India. Both of which are present in the orbit of St Anne’s Community were mentioned. This visit marks the end of a long preparation and raised expectations that the Charism and the work of the Salesians in development & evangelization may flourish and reach new heights in the three satellite projects spread in the twenty four year old Ahmednagar Mission. With his farewell blessing given, Fr Maria Kanaga was escorted to Don Bosco Savedi for his next visit. Come again, Visitor Counsellor. You’re welcome.
