By Fr Ajay D’Monte for BISMumbai

On 30 June 2022, Fr Briston Britto was installed as Rector at St Anne’s Community, Ahmednagar, by Fr Savio Silveira, the Provincial of the Salesian Province of Bombay. Fr Silveira was on the Provincial Team Visit along with Fr Ashley Miranda, the vice-Provincial, and Fr Manuel Murzello, the Economer.

The Provincial Team arrived at St Anne’s in the morning, and was warmly greeted by the Salesians. Later, they gathered in the Church for the installation of Fr Britto as a new Rector of the Community. At the ceremony, Fr Silveira spoke of Salesians being prophets of fraternity and urged all the confreres to be good shepherds and leaders after the heart of Jesus. Quoting Article 55 of the Salesian Constitutions, he stressed that the Rector primarily cares for each confrere in the community, and puts his efforts at bringing unity in the community. After the short reflection, Fr Britto professed the creed. Then Fr Silveira read the decree of the Rector Major, and Fr Britto signed the same, thus accepting the role of animating the community as Rector.

Shortly after the installation, the Provincial team met the confreres of the community to discuss

matters related to mission in the community and in the villages, community life and the administration. Later, the new vehicle of St John’s Parish, Bhingar, was blessed by Fr Silveira. On the behalf of Don Bosco Patpedhi (Cooperative Bank), Fr Vishwas Pereira, the present Chairman of the bank honored Fr Murzello for serving the bank as a chairman for the last couple of years.

The visit of the Provincial Team has certainly brought blessings and graces to the community of St Anne’s at Ahmednagar.