by Father Roshan Gonsalves
MUMBAI, AUG 17, 2016: Father Maria Arokiam Kanaga, the Regional Councillor for South Asia, visited Shelter Don Bosco on behalf of the Rector Major of the Salesians - Father Angel Fernandez Artime - on August 13, to meet the confreres and review the work, in accordance with the deliberations of the General Chapter 27 and Provincial Chapter 2016.
After meeting with the Salesians, he checked the registers and the files of the house and then met boys from the open shelter. There was an atmosphere of joy and enthusiasm among the children as each of them met the Regional personally and sought his blessings.
He addressed the boys and encouraged them to make the best use of the opportunities offered to them at the Shelter. During the programme, he also planted a Tulsi sapling with the boys giving them a message of becoming productive citizens of the society.
The community of the Shelter met him for a conference thereafter. He also met the staff members of the house. Later in the day, he visited Bosco Care Centre and appreciated the initiative for the boys above the age of eighteen years.
On returning, he spent some time meeting each confrere of the house personally, to know more about them and the work that they do in the community. He then celebrated the Holy Eucharist for the community and staff members of the house.
The visitation concluded with Father Kanaga sharing the report on his observations of the community of Shelter Don Bosco. He offered his insights on how to improve the quality of work and to be more effective in the Salesian pastoral work, through reflection on new perspectives on famous Biblical stories.