By Fr Shekar Devraj SDB for BIS Mumbai

The Salesian Province of Mumbai (INB) held its annual Provincial Community Day on December 3, 2025, at the Don Bosco Nerul campus. The gathering took place on the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, the patron saint of the Province. Seventy-two Salesians from various communities across the region attended the event to mark this significant day in the provincial calendar.

The meeting was organized around the theme “United in Jesus, Nourished by His Love and Sent Out to Serve.” The objective of the day was to bring the confreres together for prayer, administrative updates, and fraternity, allowing them to renew their focus on their vocation and shared mission.

The central part of the schedule was the Eucharist, presided over by the Provincial, Father Ashley Miranda. During his sermon, Father Miranda provided a detailed reflection on the chosen theme, breaking it down into three specific actions: unity, nourishment, and service. He stated that the effectiveness of the province’s work relies on the members remaining united in Christ rather than relying solely on individual abilities or external structures.

Father Miranda placed particular emphasis on the final part of the theme, "Sent Out to Serve." To illustrate this, he drew a direct comparison between the Salesian vocation and the biblical account of the Virgin Mary. He noted that at the Annunciation, Mary was first "nourished" by God’s love and grace. However, he pointed out that she did not remain static after this experience.

Addressing the assembly, Father Miranda explained that being filled with Christ’s love inevitably impels a believer to action. He referenced the Visitation, where Mary went in haste to help her cousin Elizabeth immediately after the Annunciation. He urged the confreres to adopt this specific model: to let their spiritual nourishment from the Eucharist drive them outward to serve the young and the needy. He concluded that, much like Mary, a Salesian who is truly united with Jesus is automatically sent out on a mission.

The event was hosted by the community of Don Bosco Nerul. The local team managed the logistics for the day, ensuring that the schedule of prayers, meetings, and meals proceeded without issues. Their organization provided the necessary environment for the visiting Salesians to interact and spend time together as a provincial family.

To commemorate the gathering, the Provincial presented a Mass kit to each community. This practical gift was selected to represent the importance of the Eucharist in daily life. It served as a reminder that the mass is central to their unity and their identity as missionaries.

The Provincial Community Day concluded with the attendees returning to their respective mission fields. The gathering served to reinforce the bonds between the members of the province and clarify their direction for the upcoming year.