By BIS Correspondent for BIS Mumbai

Pune, September 28: Following their three-day Quinquennium orientation at Don Bosco Youth Centre, Koregaon Park, Pune, young Salesian priests from the Provinces of Mumbai and Panjim participated in a special guided retreat from September 20 to 26, 2026. Designed specifically for priests in their first five years of ordination, the six-day retreat offered a transformative journey of spiritual renewal, reflection, and fraternal integration.

Marking a historic first for the region, the retreat was structured around personalized Salesian accompaniment. Each small group of four to five young priests was paired with a veteran guide from the Mumbai and Konkan regions who had been specially trained in the methodology of Salesian spiritual accompaniment. The distinguished panel of guides included Fr Ivo Coelho, former Congregation Formation Councillor, Fr Joaquim D’Souza, former East Asia-Oceania Regional Councillor, Fr Loddy Pires, former Provincial, along with Frs Ian Doulton, Blany Pinto, Simao Fernandes, and Wyman Gonsalves. Through structured personal sharing and intensive prayer journaling, the guides helped the young priests explore their vocation, community living, consecrated life, and daily pastoral ministry in a supportive, confidential space.

The daily Eucharistic celebrations were animated by the guides, whose homilies offered deep spiritual nourishment for the retreatants. Fr Ivo Coelho opened the retreat by reflecting on the transformative compassion in the gaze of Jesus when He called Matthew, the tax collector, while Fr Loddy Pires spoke beautifully on the profound love at the heart of the priesthood. Fr Joaquim D’Souza delved into the enigma of consecrated religious life in today's world, and Fr Simao Fernandes reminded the young priests of the transient nature of the material world compared to eternal truths. Furthermore, Fr Blany Pinto highlighted how human timing must align with God's patient preparation, and Fr Wyman Gonsalves emphasized the need to reason out the priestly call while fostering true Salesian brotherhood through active listening and open dialogue.

The retreat concluded on September 26, leaving the young Salesians spiritually re-energized, deeply rooted in Don Bosco's charism, and prepared to return to their respective youth ministries.