By Cl. Ethan Fortes for BISMumbai

With the aim to strengthen vocation animation in the Province, the vocation teams of some of the Salesian presences of the province gathered together at Don Bosco Lonavla for a two-day workshop beginning on 12 November 2022. The vocation teams from the Salesian presences of Andheri, Kurla, Nashik, Alirajpur, Borivali, Ahmednagar, Matunga, and Nerul took part in this meeting wherein they shared, evaluated and suggested various strategies to help better accompany the young in listening and following God’s call. Various Salesians of the Vocation commission also joined the meeting along with the various lay members of the vocation teams.

At the inaugural Eucharist, Fr Blany Pinto spoke of the call of all Christians to be witnesses of the Good News to the world. He stressed on the importance of lay people as leaven in the dough of the world wherein they spread the Good News to others by their daily dealings. Fr Mylin Noronha oriented the participants into the role of lay people in the digital world. Taking cue from various Vatican documents he spoke of lay people being called to spread the light of Christ and bring about joy and hope. Fr Noronha also helped the lay people in adapting Don Bosco’s method of accompaniment in accordance to the signs of the time. He added that one ought to be effective in the digital world as a lay person.

Later in the day, the members of the vocation team went on a trek with a group of aspirants and got familiar with each other. In the evening, Fr Savio Silveira, the Provincial, addressed the vocation teams present. He thanked them for their voluntary service and the Salesians for their efforts and commitment. While speaking of Don Bosco’s own vocation story, he spoke of how lay people helped Don Bosco achieve his dream towards becoming a priest. He added that just like some are called to be priests, brothers or sisters, there are still others who are called to be vocation animators. The day concluded with the aspirants showcasing their talents in front of the team members.

The following day, the vocation team members joined the aspirants for the Holy Eucharist presided over by Fr Silveira. In his homily, he spoke of the call to be a religious and how one ought to go about discerning God’s call in their life. Later, the vocation teams presented their works and future plans and activities regarding vocation animation.

During the day, Fr Joyston Machado shared the action plan of the aspirantate that focused on how the various activities of the house help in the aspirants’ overall growth. Fr Pinto then shared his views on vocation animation and also encouraged the participants to share in their ideas and insights as to how the task of vocation animation can be better facilitated. A few of the aspirants also interacted with the participants and shared their experience in the aspirantate and how the activities of the house have helped them to grow and also discern their vocation.

All the participants left with renewed ideas and insights as to how the vocation animation of the Province can be better facilitated to help garner more vocations for the Church and the Salesian Congregation.