By Ankita Shelke and Fr Bento D’Souza

The Salesian communities of the Ahilyanagar–Aurangabad Region gathered for a Regional Evaluation and Prospective Planning Meeting for two days at Bosco Gramin Vikas Kendra (BGVK), Kedgaon. Seventeen members from the various Salesian houses of the region, participated in the two-day meeting. The gathering was guided by the theme “Do Whatever He Tells You “Inviting the participants to prayerfully discern God’s will for the mission and ministries carried out in the region. The meeting began with a prayer and welcome, setting a reflective tone for the sessions that followed. Fr. George D’Abreo, the moderator of the meeting, gave an introductory overview of the purpose of the evaluation and the process to be followed during the two days. He encouraged the participants to honestly review the past and responsibly plan for the future of the mission in the region. Bro. Wenscel SJ from Nandurbar provided the introductory input that initiated the process of reflection and discernment. He invited the participants to set aside personal agendas and carefully listen to what God is asking from the region today, encouraging openness to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

The meeting began by reviewing the historical development of the mission and the village pastoral initiatives in the region up to the year 2005, recalling the beginnings of the Salesian presence and the gradual growth of pastoral and social outreach in the villages. This was followed by sharing from the various centres. The parish priests of St. John Bosco Parish, Savedi, St. John the Baptist Parish, Bhingar, and St. Anne Parish, Ahilyanagar presented the vision and mission of their parishes and highlighted some of the achievements and challenges faced in their pastoral work. Bosco Gramin Vikas Kendra also shared an overview of the social development initiatives undertaken in the past year and the realities encountered while working with rural communities. The principals of the Salesian schools presented the functioning of their institutions and the administrative as well as pastoral challenges involved in managing them.

The participants then entered into a deeper moment of prayerful discernment through scripture reflection, silent prayer, and group sharing. Several pastoral concerns surfaced during the discussions, including the need to strengthen faith formation, promote lay leadership, encourage greater participation of women in leadership roles, improve parish data assessment, and support charitable initiatives such as medical assistance funds. Other concerns included addressing social issues like addiction, strengthening the sacramental life of the faithful, encouraging parish self-sufficiency, increasing village pastoral visits, and providing better pastoral care for families and couples.

Following this, the participants were divided into groups focusing on parish ministry, education, and social work to identify priorities and prepare concrete plans for the future. A session on SMART goals conducted by Fr. George helped the groups to formulate clear and practical objectives. Based on these discussions, an action plan was prepared with responsibilities, timelines, and measurable indicators for implementation. The planning process focused on micro-level goals for the coming year and a broader macro-level vision for the next three years. Two key priorities that emerged for the coming year were strengthening faith formation and developing lay leadership in the parishes.

The two-day evaluation and planning meeting concluded with a sense of gratitude, renewed enthusiasm, and a deeper commitment to the Salesian mission in the region. The participants left the gathering inspired by the spirit of discernment that guided the discussions and confident about the path ahead. Rooted in prayer and guided by the theme “Do Whatever He Tells You,” the meeting reaffirmed the importance of listening to God’s voice while responding creatively to the pastoral and social realities of the people. With clear priorities, concrete action plans, and a shared vision for the future, the Salesian communities of the Ahilyanagar–Aurangabad Region expressed their readiness to continue serving the young, the poor, and the marginalized with renewed zeal and dedication in the coming years.