by Father Xavier Bandya for BISMumbai

St Michael’s Church, Salawad-Suket celebrated the feast of St John Bosco on 31 January 2021, with the sacrament of the 1st Holy Communion administered to 05 children from the parish. Father Georgy D'Cunha and Sr Kripa FSMS prepared the children spiritually.

On 30 January, the 05 children received the sacrament of reconciliation and submitted their wills to receive Christ enthusiastically. They promised to receive Jesus in the Eucharist every day. The Salesian presence in the parish has helped people to reflect on the virtue of St John Bosco through the days of the Novena, thanks especially to all the animators who made these novenas meaningful and fruitful. The topic for the Novenas were taken from the Salesian Strenna 2021, where Salesians and people all around the world were invited to help in building a spiritual world broken by COVID-19. The Rector Major of Salesian Congregation, invited all to be “Moved by hope: ‘for behold, I make all things new’ (Rev 21:5).”

Father D'Cunha, in his homily, invited people to keep their ‘hope’ alive during this pandemic. He quoted from the Strenna, saying, "In the history of salvation God never abandons his people, he always remains united with them, especially when the pain becomes very strong: “Behold, I am doing something new: right now, it is sprouting, don’t you notice it? (Is 43:19)." At this solemn celebration he administered the Sacrament of Holy Communion to the 05 children, who alonwith their parents expressed their gratitude with a thanksgiving prayer.