By Br Royston Colaco for BIS Mumbai

Lonavla, November 13, 2025 — Don Bosco Lonavla marked the feast of St Artemide Zatti, Salesian Coadjutor with a day of spirited prayer, film, and reflection that brought together the entire community of aspirants in gratitude and faith.

 The celebration opened with a lively Holy Eucharist presided over by Fr Vivian D’Souza, Vice-Rector of Don Bosco Lonavala. The aspirants led the introduction, the prayer of the faithful, and the singing, setting a deeply devotional tone. In his homily, Fr D’Souza drew attention to St Zatti’s care for the sick and the underprivileged, urging the young to mirror his compassion, humility, and sense of joyful service.

 In the evening, Fr Avil Correa, Catechist, conducted the Eucharistic Adoration, a reflective prayer service that spotlighted St Zatti’s spiritual strength and steadfast following of Christ. The adoration invited the aspirants to contemplate the saint’s faith-filled response to human suffering and his unwavering dedication to those who were sick, victimised, or vulnerable.

 After supper, the aspirants watched the film ‘Zatti, Our Brother’, a moving portrayal of the Salesian saint’s life of service and self-giving. The screening was followed by an interactive Q&A session, where aspirants identified the distinctive qualities that defined St Zatti’s life and vocation.

 The day concluded with a Good Night message by Br Royston Colaco, Province Vocation Animator and member of the Don Bosco Lonavla community. In his closing words, Br Colaco urged the aspirants to “become Good Samaritans like Br Zatti, to listen actively to the Lord like Br Zatti, and to render quality service like Br Zatti.” He described the saint as a model of generous, benevolent, and intelligent faith — a Salesian lay brother who read the signs of the times and responded with action rooted in love.

 The feast day-notwithstanding the poor table fare-ended on a note of reflection and resolve. For the aspirants of Don Bosco Lonavala, St Artemide Zatti stood not as a distant figure of the past but as a living call to serve, listen, and love — wholeheartedly and without reserve.