by Father Mcenroe Lopes for BISMumbai

The newly ordained priests of the Salesian Province of Bombay (INB), began the Mumbai City stage of their honeymoon on 09 January 2020. Having finished a whirlwind tour of the Don Bosco presences in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, with barely anytime to rest awhile, the new priests kick-started their Mumbai itinerary amidst graduate students at the Don Bosco Centre for Learning (DBCL) Kurla.

A solemn festive Eucharist, presided over by Father Clarence Martis - who hails from the Holy Cross Parish Kurla - was well-animated with melodious singing. At this concelebrated Eucharist, Father Martis invited the young adults to "make meaningful right choices in life, giving of one's best to be good human beings and upright citizens in the best interests of society." The young people and faculty representing SJITI, DBIT, DBC with its 03 Departments of BMM, BHS, BMS queued up to kiss the anointed palms of the new priests, pledging to pray for them.

Father Colbert daSilva-Rector DBCL then accompanied the new priests for a 'campus tour', - which can get quite tiresome unguided, owing to the labyrinthic design - to the different departments, animatedly explaining the various activities on a typical working day. A delectably mouth-watering lunch spread in gregarious company satisfied hungry tummies and uplifted spirits, after which part two of day one in Mumbai began.

Shelter Don Bosco (SDB) Wadala hosted the new priests in the latter part of the day, even as the morning light turned to crimson delight amidst feathered friends taking flight to nest in for the night. Welcomed by Father Gregory D'Almeida-Rector and the entire community, the new priests interacted with the boys, who in their never-diminishing joviality hugged them, shook hands and made the newly ordained feel-at-home. Eucharist with the Salesians followed by enthusiastic and fun-filled photo-session ensured that the jocund company enjoyed a wonderful fellowship dinner, before bidding goodnight and walking back to the Provincial House to settle in for a much needed night's rest.