by Father Evangelo D'Souza for BISMumbai

"I see God's hand in my vocation," were the words of the newly ordained priest Father Michael Gaikwad when asked by one of his professors during his theology exam. On 21 August 2021, Sacred Heart Parish at Yerwada-Pune, witnessed a historical moment with the priestly ordination of the local boy, Dn. Michael Gaikwad. It was a moment of grace for the parishioners of Yerwada. The words of the Gospel of Luke 1:49 rightly echoed .. "The Almighty has done great things for me, holy is his name."

Bishop Thomas Dabre of the Diocese of Poona presided over the Holy Eucharist and anointed the hands of Dn. Michael Gaikwad in the presence of the lay faithful and his family and friends. Bishop Dabre expressed his great delight in celebrating the ordination to the priesthood of Dn. Michael Gaikwad. He was overjoyed to celebrate His ordination because Dn. Michael is a local vocation. A sign of a matured and inculturated church is the emergence of local vocations, he said. He further on added that the local church is an inspiration of Vatican II. There is a symbiotic relationship between local and universal church which has been realized in the ordination of Fr Michael Gaikwad. He thanked God, that the message the Church at Yerwada received, has borne fruit in the ordination of Fr. Michael.

Addressing Dn. Michael Gaikwad, he said "Jesus instituted the sacrament of Eucharist before his death. It is the greatest gift that he gave to his disciples and to everyone. It is Jesus who gave himself." HE, therefore exhorted to people and especially Dn. Gaikwad, to make Jesus the centre of His life, because in him is the fullness of life; because he is the way the truth and the life.

It was indeed a day to rejoice for the Province of Bombay, and a moment of pride for the Salesian Congregation at large. Viva Don Bosco.