By Fr Jerome Edison for BISMumbai

On 29 January 2023, Don Bosco Parish, Baroda, celebrated its Golden Jubilee with the theme ‘Drawing from the wells of Salvation’. This marked a glorious culmination of the Golden Jubilee year which had a series of flagship programmes for the parishioners. 

This auspicious day was solemnised with the presence of Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes and Fr Savio Silveira, the Provincial of the Salesian Province of Bombay. In addition there were 36 priests concelebrating at the Eucharist.

After the Eucharistic celebration the cultural programme commenced. A moment of silence was maintained to remember all the deceased religious and lay people who worked for the foundation of the Parish. The gathering was welcomed with a beautiful prayer dance performed by the girls of Mother Theresa’s Home. Fr Issac Arackaparambil, the Rector and Parish Priest, felicitated all the dignitaries on the dais. Later, the elderly members of the Parish were felicitated by the Salesians as a symbol of 50 years of grace and relationship with Christ and Don Bosco. 

A souvenir for the occasion was released at the hands of Fr Silveira, who handed the first copy to Archbishop Fernandes and other dignitaries. Fr Silveira spoke about the jubilee as not just a number but the prayers, blessings, accompaniment of God that led us to this day. Having the privilege to work in the Parish, he was grateful to the priests, sisters and devout faithful people who were instrumental in reaching to this day of foundational experience of Jubilee. He invited the congregation to a message of Synodal Church which Walks together with everyone, Works together without any inhibition and Wins together with Christ and his people.

The Scholarship awards were given to the students of the Parish who secured good marks in their examinations. A breathtaking dance was performed by the boys of Don Bosco Snehalya, and a meaningful skit was enacted on the life of Don Bosco by the children and youth of the Parish.

The Youth presented a heart-warming timeline of the Parish from the start to the present day with its origin, struggles, blessings to the jubilee year of God’s loving grace and covenant with the people of God. Today the parish stands strong with 445 families and 30 plus groups that keeps the parish activeth; the salt and light of Christ in the world. The youth concluded with a song of thanksgiving.  

This wonderful cultural programme came to an end with a classic rendition of Handel's Hallelujah choral piece.