ANDHERI, DECEMBER 4, 2010: The Salesian province of Mumbai celebrated its Provincial Community Day at St. Dominic Savio’s, Andheri. Over seventy Salesians gathered around their Provincial, Fr. Michael Fernandes and his team of councilors to express their sentiments of gratitude. Coinciding with the feast of its patron, St. Francis Xavier, the celebrations began with a well animated Eucharistic Celebration. The theme for the day was ‘Communion of Hearts’. Surrounded by the Council members, the main celebrant Fr. Provincial invited one and all to give thanks to God and to pray for the growth and development of the province.
Fr. Ronnie Menezes in an eloquent and thought provoking homily drew the attention of each one to the theme ‘Celebrating a Communion of Hearts’. Blending Scripture and the Salesian Constitutions together made the theme come alive. After the post communion, in a short presentation, Fr. Wilfred D’Souza spoke about the ‘Pilgrim Casket of Don Bosco’ and invited every Salesian to rally around the core team in preparing every community for this ‘Salesian Holy Year’. Casket would be in the province from August 4 – August 16, 2011.
At a homely get-together, the Salesians once again gathered around Fr. Provincial and his team of councilors. Fr. Roger Jones, the MC for the evening, in his typical ‘Rogerness’ brought magic, fun and laughter to the show. On behalf of the province, Fr. Robert Pen raised a fitting toast to the Provincial and his team. One could sense a deep love and gratitude for the leadership, animation and governance in the person of Fr. Michael Fernandes.
A special word of thanks was expressed to the community of St. Dominic Savio’s, Andheri for hosting this year’s province celebrations.