INP Comes Together for Triple celebrations

Francis Xavier SDB

26 Feb 2024

Salesians

The confreres of the Salesian Province of Panjim Konkan gathered to mark the triple celebrations of Provincial community day, jubilees and felicitation of the new Priests at Mount Don Bosco, Tuem, Goa on February 26, 2024.

Addressing the gathering, Provincial, Panjim Konkan Father Clive Telles said, Its indeed a day of great celebrations as we come together to thank God for the vocation and ministry of Don Bosco in the province of Panjim Konkan, to acknowledge the dedication and perseverance of our Jubilarians and to raise our hands in praise to God for giving us two young priests. Referring to Brother Francis Mascarenhas and Brother Frank Braganza celebrating Diamond Jubilee of First Profession Father Telles said, whenever we spoke of the Lay Brother in the provincial house, a mention was always made not just of their commitment to the apostolate but, their dedication to the practices of piety and prayer in the community. He thanked the jubilarians, Father Thomas Fernandes celebrating his Golden Jubilee of Ordination, Father Avin Carvalho, Father Jose Sequeira, Father Manuel Vaz and Father San Carvalho celebrating their silver jubilee of ordination for their persistent dedication to the apostolate and the mission of Don Bosco in the province of Panjim Konkan. He also welcomed back Father Anthony D’Souza as a permanent member to the Province of Panjim who returns after serving as a missionary in Africa and Europe for the last 36 years.

Preaching the homily Father Jose Sequeira said, in total today we celebrate God’s work of over 250 years putting together the dedication and service of all our jubilarians. Today, we celebrate the diversity of our backgrounds that unites when we work for the mission God has entrusted to us. The different talents, skills, education, mission etc comes together as with the intervention that God is at our side. Setbacks have been may but, we should trust in God constantly as He is working for the human, through human hands. Let’s keep each other in prayer so that we may continue to work with the same zeal and dedication to the mission entrusted to us.

Father Maxim D’Souza raised the toast to the commitment and approachability of the Province and the vision and dedication of the provincial council and the confreres of the Panjim Province. Father Arvind Severes together with Father Banzelao Teixeira and Father Joel D’Souza handed the citations to the jubilarians at the hands of the Provincial Father Clive Telles. Father Ian Pinto and Father Nigel Pinto the newly ordained priests of the Panjim Konkan Province were also felicitated on the occasion.

A cultural programme of dance and traditional songs by the students of Don Bosco High School, Tuem was staged on the occasion. The celebrations came to an end with the agape of Salesians, Salesian family members and guests.