By Fr Jerome Edison for BISMumbai

On 28 and 29 August 2022, Don Bosco, Makarpura, was immensely blessed with the gracious visit of the Extraordinary Visitor, Fr Biju Michael, General Councillor for South Asia. The community solemnly welcomed him, thus ushering in a moment of grace.

Fr Biju Michael solemnized the day by celebrating the Sunday Holy Eucharist for all the parishioners. After the Holy Mass, he blessed and inaugurated the newly built Adoration Chapel. All the animators of the various groups of the parish presented their respective work from its inception especially amidst the pandemic and post-pandemic in the animation of the Parish. Fr Biju Michael was deeply impressed, and addressed all these groups saying that was how the Church functioned as a Synod led together in the Acts of the Apostles.

Fr Biju Michael addressed the Salesian community at Makarpura, and gave a meaningful conference on Vocation: Consecrated, Consecrated in a Society and Consecrated in a Mission. He shared the articles of the Salesian Constitution with deep reflection and practical examples that uplifted the community to be imbued with the spirit of St John Bosco. He personally made time to meet all the confreres.

The next day, 29 August, Fr Biju Michael celebrated Mass at Carmel Ashram followed by an interaction with the Carmel Sisters. Later, he interacted with the staff and students of Don Bosco School and College. He remarked that education is the highest form of charity for human welfare. A sapling was planted by him to express union with ecology and environment. He also paid a visit to the property at Amodar on the Waghodia Road.

Fr Biju Michael gave a concluding report, appreciating and thanking the community for carrying out the works in the Parish and School as desired by Don Bosco. The community expressed its deepest gratitude to him for paying such a beautiful visit of bringing the wishes of the Rector Major and for reviving in the mission the spirit of Don Bosco.

Fr Biju Michael then proceeded to visit Don Bosco, Banswara. It was a moment of grace and blessings in this new presence of the Province of Bombay. He visited the construction site and met the contractors, workers and those incharge of the projects to brief them about the importance of this project for tribal youth of Banswara district. After reaching the JeevanDeep Pastoral Centre, he celebrated the Mass with the Salesians who accompanied him to thank God for this invitation to work for the tribal community of the Udaipur Diocese. During the Mass, he prayed for the Bishop, Diocesan priests and all those involved in this project of building the Residence and College building for the youth of the diocese.

In the evening just before tea, he visited the great Bajaj Mahi Daam of Banswara. Later on, he met the diocesan priests of JeevanDeep Pastoral Centre, to thank them for the invitation to work in the diocese for the higher education of tribal youth.