M.M. Mumbai celebrated province level Women’s day under SAHARA Project for Migrants. On 13th from 4.00pm – 8.00pm Women’s day celebration was held at St. Francis De Sales Church premises for 52 catholic migrant women from Ghansoli, Koparkhairane and Sanpada parishes in Navi Mumbai. Prior invitations were sent to all the parishes and women were invited. Accordingly on 13th Catholic women migrants from Orissa, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Solapur and Uttar Pradesh who settled in Navi Mumbai for work purposes.
The celebration commenced with registration and Snacks for the participants and continued with Eucharistic celebration by Rev. Fr. Daniel Paraste MSFS from St. Joseph Church, Kurla sent by the Archdiocesan Commission for migrants. Fr. Daniel in Hindi language made the homily and mass very meaningful for one and all. He appreciated the migrant women and highlighted the theme “Break the Bias” for this year with a lot of examples. Men and women migrants form Good Shepherd Church Sanpada played instruments and animated the Liturgy and singing well
The Anmol Sisters had decorated the place beautifully for the celebration. After the mass the young women from Anmol welcomed through song, skit and remix dances. Tribal women from Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh presented their cultural songs on the stage. Videos on empowerment of women were shown by Sr. Moksha Anthoonappa to motivate the women. Resource persons were Mrs. Jeeni Anthony a lawyer from Koparkhairane, Mrs. Rosy Paul well known parish council member of St. Francis De Sales Church and Mrs. Chhanda Pires, a very powerful lady in Koparkhairane who spoke out about her personal experiences and achievements and gave powerful messages to the migrant women.
Sr. Macline D’Souza and team conducted enjoyable games with attractive prizes. Women were given token gifts, bags and towels sponsored by Harihar Putra Samaj from Chembur. Sanitary napkins were sponsored by Rotary Club of Queen’s Necklace Mumbai. Dinner packets included Chinese fried rice and noodles which were distributed to all the participants as they left the premises. Representatives from the different parishes voiced out their sentiments of gratitude and appreciated for bringing migrant women together. This was indeed a meaningful and enlightening get together. The resource persons being women, were very enriching as they shared the personal experiences. Food, snacks, gifts and games were just meant for women.
All thanks to Sr. Moksha Anthonappa who is the Coordinator of SAHARA – Project of the Salesian Sisters Mumbai Province who organized under Sahara Project. She is also the Unit head of Navi Mumbai unit and represents the Salesian Sisters at the Arch Diocesan commission for Migrants.