by Lata Dindor for BIS Mumbai

"O little town of Bethlehem", this Carol was written by Phillips Brooks, an American Episcopal clergyman and author for his Sunday School in 1868, the author having spent Christmas, 1866, at Bethlehem. And should it draw parallels with that of Fr Ashley Miranda, Provincial, who chose to celebrate Christmas, 2025, the first of his tenure in Banswara? Fr Miranda also spent Christmas, 2023, with the first Salesian community at Kevadiya, Banswara. 

"O little village of Kevadiya, how still we see thee lie!" Declaring his canonical visitation to Don Bosco, Banswara on the Christmas eve brought tidings of peace and love to the Salesians and the flock at Kevadiya. To conclude the season of Advent and to herald the birth of Christ, the people went house to house singing Christmas Carols on 19 and 20 of December and thereafter the reception of the sacrament of reconciliation. The coming of Christ at Christmas and the arrival of Fr Miranda brought hope to the pilgrims, even as the Church draws curtain on the Jubilee Year 2025. 

On Christmas Day, 25 December 2025, Fr Miranda celebrated the Eucharist at Kevadiya along with the Salesian confreres Michael, Renold and Ivan. Deacon Nilesh Damor, missionary ad gentes, belonging to the Salesian Province of St. John Berchmans, Brussels for North Belgium & the Netherlands (BEN), was also present for the festive Eucharist. The people accorded Fr Provincial a traditional welcome and led him to the Church. Introducing the liturgy of the day, Fr Miranda spoke about the love of God made manifest in the person of Christ that brought joy to humanity and also the second coming of the Lord in glory. Dn Nilesh proclaimed the gospel and delivered the homily typically, colloquial in nature. He dealt greatly on the Word as John the Evangelist rightly depicts in his Prologue. 

Towards the end of service the Provincial was felicitated with a turban and a garland, a symbolic gesture for the shepherd to guide the sheep entrusted to his care. To celebrate Christmas, there were party games, on the spot crib and carol singing and community tribal dance. Thereafter, the people enjoyed the festive meal prepared by the community leaders.