by Cleric Agnel Dias & Father Joaquim Fernandes for BISMumbai

Mumbai Salesians’ Provincial Father Savio Silveira installed Father Dominic Martis as the 1^st Rector of the newly canonically erected house of Don Bosco Naigaon, in the Diocese of Vasai, Maharashtra on 18 June 2020.

Father Silveira quoted Article 55 of the Salesian Constitutions which speaks about the Rector and his role in the community, saying, “The Rector is not a Chief Executive Officer or Administrative Head but a father, teacher and a spiritual guide of the community. The first task of the Rector is to help confreres to live their vocation and build unity in the community. The primary responsibility of the Rector is to help confreres to live their consecrated Salesian identity in a meaningful manner”. He congratulated Father Martis and wished him success in his pastoral and educational ministry for the young.

Father Martis is the 1st Rector and will also serve as Parish Priest of the Mary Help of Christians Church too. He takes over from Father Orville Coutinho who served the institute with great commitment and dedication for 09 long years as Parish Preist and Incharge of the Institution. The Parishioners now have a wonderful cemetery at the Church premises and the Educational institute has grown immensely with Salesians and other collaborators. Father Martis, born to Carmelin and Sabestian Martis, hails from Korlai village of Raigad District, Maharashtra. He is the youngest of 06 siblings and studied in Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School Korlai. He joined the aspirantate at Don Bosco Lonavla and completed his ecclesiastical studies for the priesthood. Thereafter he pursued Masters in Social Work from the Pune University.

Post-Installation, Father Martis said “I would like to share the mission of Christ and empower the poorest young through education.” He thanked the Provincial and his fellow Salesians.

Don Bosco Naigaon lies 03 kilometers to the east of the Naigaon railway station. Naigaon has a pluri-religious population, with Christians in the area from Mumbai and other parts of India.Don Bosco High School was established in 1999. The Rector Major Don Angel Fernandez had officially announced the canonical status for this house on 14 March, 2019. The community comprises of 06 Salesians - Fathers Dominic Martis, Rector-Parish Priest, Anthony Fonseca, Principal-Vice Rector, Edward D’souza, Administrator, Joaquim Fernandes, Assistant Parish Priest and Clerics Agnel Dias and Selvin D’Mello.