By Blany Pinto for BIS Mumbai

In an age overcrowded with choices yet marked by uncertainty, more than 45 Local Vocation Animators (LVA) from across Don Bosco institutions of western India gathered in Lonavla with a question that reaches far beyond Church circles pondering proactively on how do young people discover purpose?

The Mumbai Salesians Province Vocation Team Conclave, held on August 22–23 at Don Bosco Lonavla, brought together 13 Salesians and 34 lay collaborators whose primary and specific task was not simply to promote vocations, but to build environments where young people can recognise, understand, discern and respond to a deeper sense of life's calling.

In the opening address, Fr Mylin Noronha spoke on “Building the Church Together.” He reminded participants that the mission of the Church and the Salesian Family belongs to God and is shared by all. Drawing on the example of Don Bosco, he stressed, "a lasting impact emerges when Salesians, lay collaborators, families and young people work together with ownership and belonging."

Fr Vivian D’Souza then solemnised the Holy Eucharist, after which the participant-animators interacted with the aspirants at Don Bosco Lonavla, as Fr Avil Correa introduced them to a formation process rooted in prayer, fellowship, games, art, drama and music. Conversations with the young aspirants brought the discussion from theory to lived experience, revealing both the promise and the challenges of vocation ministry today.

An optional but alluring trek to the nearby Tungarli Dam offered space for informal reflection before the Province Vocation Commission Coordinator and Rector of Don Bosco Lonavla, Fr Blany Pinto addressed the gathered animators. He highlighted the importance of Salesians and lay collaborators working as partners and reaffirmed, "fostering vocations to Salesian life remains a priority for every institution."

Yet the most powerful message came not from a lecture hall for following an evocative Eucharistic Adoration and a sumptuous supper, the aspirants regaled the animator-representatives with songs, dances and skits. Soon, Salesians, lay collaborators and young people were singing and dancing together-a simple but striking image of the fraternity the gathering hoped to cultivate.

On Sunday, Fr Ashley Miranda, Mumbai Salesians Provincial presided at the Holy Eucharist and pointed to Don Bosco’s Oratory, where many boys went on to become priests and religious. Its strength, he said, "lay in creating a culture of vocation. Such a culture is broader than recruitment; it helps young people discover meaning and direction."

Province Vocation Animator for 18Plus, Br Royston Colaco reviewed the previous year’s activities, while he and Fr Velasli Bandya, Province Vocation Animator for 18Minus, outlined and detailed vocation animation at local-community, zone and Province levels. The meeting concluded with teams presenting annual plans built around the five core priorities: Pray, Invite, Teach, Celebrate and Collaborate.

For those gathered in Lonavla, the challenge ahead was clear: not merely to organise programmes, but to help young people find a purpose worth giving their lives to. FMA nuns, Sr Krupalara and Sr Anita, from Mundhwa and Keshnand in Pune chorused in unison, "so many young people are waiting to be asked and invited to join: we must reach out more creatively. " Fr Vishal Lopes from Borivali, quipped, "this is superb, even in Rome I did not find such enthusiasm." Fr Royal D'abreo from Naigaon remarked "it was very good to be here and experience the bonding. We hope to implement it in our parish and school setting." Fr Anthony Patole from Waluj-Aurangabad was all praise for the event and promised, "we will soon begin this in our place and hope to do more vocation outreach as a team. "

The 2-day gathering, spearheaded by Fr Bandya and Br Colaco has set in motion further and more collaborative vocation-culture renewal and a promising youth vocation ministry enterprise through a creative purposeful process across the province.