By Blany Pinto for BIS Mumbai

The senior aspirants at Don Bosco Lonavla and other vocation probables from Mumbai, Vasai and Alirajpur kickstarted their annual Diwali Vacation with a 'Faith meets Fact-Learn, Explore, Grow Together' Mission Possible adventure for five days, from October 30 to November 3, trading familiar routines for village roads, working farms and encounters with rural communities whose lives are changing through education, development and faith, in the arid hinterlands of Ahilyanagar and Marathwada in Maharashtra. 

Based at BGVK (Bosco Gramin Vikas Kendra)- Kedgaon, Ahilyanagar, the young campers were introduced and oriented on October 31, by Fr George D’Abreo to the Salesian development work across 15 districts of Maharashtra, spanning education, child development, digital literacy, healthcare, water conservation, sustainable agriculture, rural livelihoods and women leadership cooperatives. He challenged the boys saying, "consider a life of service and the call to give your lives for a higher purpose to uplift others." Br Vincent Nigrel then led an exploratory farm visit explaining the animal husbandry, poultry and agri-development initiatives. Following this, the group travelled to Mathani village, where local residents shared how watershed projects, dairy farming, vermicomposting and biogas initiatives had changed their lives.

Day two, Solemnity of All Saints, the boys joined parishioners for Mass at St John's, Savedi, presided over by Fr Richard D'Silva and interacted with Sunday school children, led songs and games, visited Don Bosco Colony and heard the vocation stories from Fr D'Silva and Fr Ajit Munis. Later, accompanied by parish catechists, the campers visited seven villages, discovering local histories, people's simple faith and the effect of the Salesian presence. 

On All Souls' Day, the camping experience moved between reflection, history and remembrance. At St Anne's Parish, Fr McEnroe Lopes introduced the parish's work, while Fr Nathaneal George spoke candidly about vocation and the challenges of mission. A visit to the historic Chand Bibi Mahal offered a glimpse of local history before the day concluded with Mass at the Bhingar Cemetery, celebrated by Fr Vishwas Pereira. 

Daily prayer, Eucharist, personal reflection, shared experiences and campfires gave the aspirants space to absorb what they had witnessed. The camp planned and organised by Fr Velasli Bandya with Frs Kiran Salve, Avil Correa and Clerics Melton Suares and Mark Fernandes, ended on November 3. The Faith meets Fact Mission Adventure in rural Maharashtra threw up a poignant central question that travelled with the campers and will continue to linger - is faith something to profess, or something to put into practice?