by BISMumbai Correspondent

On 12 February, MumbaiSalesians' commemorated the 111th Birth Anniversary of Father Aurelius Maschio, the patriarch of the Salesian Province of Bombay (INB), following Salesian Provincial Mumbai Father Savio Silveira's plea to "emulate this great son of Don Bosco, in whose footsteps our province confidently walks today." Preparing for the Golden Jubilee in 2022, a time for renewal, Father Maschio is one of the primary pioneers who helped initiate a bright new chapter in the history of the Salesian mission in Western India.

"While Fr Maschio was a farsighted visionary and a bold builder, he was equally deeply rooted in Salesian culture and values. In all his expansion endeavours of Salesian works, he kept his focus on poor and needy youngsters, and never compromised on Salesian principles. In that, I believe, lies his true greatness – a man who could think far, and think Salesian!" (Cf. Provincial Circular, Province of St. Francis Xavier INB, SS/C-6/2020/02 p. 4-5).

The Salesian Youth Ministry Core team, spearheaded by Father Glenford Lowe (Provincial Councillor for Youth Ministry and Social Communications) met with the 07 Sector & 04 Dimension coordinators at DBPH Matunga Mumbai with Father Silveira & Father Ashley Miranda to report on the animation thus far, review the methodology & revitalise the animating nucleus, while proposing renewal strategies.

The 'called, consecrated, commissioned' renewal theme for Salesians, the Salesian Family and theSalesian Ministry was intensely discussed over 03 hours to further preparations for the Province Golden Jubilee launched on 03 December 2019 and to conclude in December 2022.

Earlier, at the start of the proceedings, Father Silveira addresed the sector and dimension leaders saying, "it is high time we ask ourselves whether we are in sync with the aspirations of the young people/ iGen across our settings and whether we are really carrying out the task of accompanying them, especially inviting them to be good human beings, good christians and contributive citizens." He invited the members present to contemplate effective accompaniment strategies without being limited by assigned portfolios and go beyond seeking the poorest and the abandoned.