“In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”! For all that has been in the life of our beloved Institute for the past 150 years, we echo BERAKAH – all praise to our great, big, wonderful, mighty, gracious God for the marvels of eternal, faithful love!
A centenary of a myriad blessings from our Divine Well-Wisher for having accompanied our beloved pioneers over these precious years; through thick and thin, sunshine and rain, they traversed years of joy and suffering, good times and tough times, success and failure; yet despite these countless hurdles while breaking new ground on our very own Indian soil, they were not deterred but with the sole aim and purpose of proclaiming the Reign of God, they made it! Tough times never last, but tough people do!
“Gratitude is one of life’s glowing miracles”! Indeed we magnify the Lord, our gracious God for the Radiant Ruby that our very own M.M. Mumbai is celebrating! Focusing gratitude on anything makes it grow! Thanks to the self-sacrificing presence of our pioneering Sisters and FMA Provincials who did their best to see our province grow in leaps and bounds!
The prayer at dawn invited us to render thanks to the Lord for His unbounded loving presence in our lives that has steered the ship of our province, our FMA presence in our Bharatmata and above all in our Institute over the rich,glorious 40, 100, 150 years! Yes, it is MARY, the Help of Christians and of all people, our beloved Mother, Teacher and Guide who has done it all! The solemn Eucharistic Banquet at 07.00 a.m. by Bishop John Rodrigues was a fitting tribute of profound gratitude for all that has been in our Institute. During the entrance procession we highlighted the respective, significant events through symbolic offerings – the Globe standing for the 150 years since our Institute came into being, from a very tiny seed of the Salesian charism, it has become a mighty tree spreading its branches over the continents! Then we had the Map of our country highlighting the centenary of our pioneers who set foot on Indian soil – six young, enthusiastic FMA, faced many odds to establish a strong foundation that has spread out to seven provinces today, touching lives and transforming people. Finally, we have the map of our Mumbai province! We celebrate the Radiant Ruby of our luminous presence as a province in the four states of Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa.
Soon after the Eucharistic banquet, we had a beautiful video presentation of all that has been since the birthday of our M.M. Province – 24th May 1982! it helped us re-call and re-live all that God has accomplished in the lives of our Sisters and particularly those who have precede to God’s house and God’s eternal embrace! We then proceeded to the refectory for the cutting of the cake! Another important gesture of great rejoicing and celebration! During this auspicious moment Sr Meena D’Silva our provincial presented all the FMA provincials of M.M. Mumbai a lovely memento – of our Blessed Mother Mary who leads and guides us as well as placing in focus the 3 milestones that we celebrate – 1872 – 2022 – 1922 – 2022 – 1982 – 2022 – As we rejoice and celebrate these 3 moments, we strategically aim at a renewed Enthusiasm, a determined choice of LOVE at all costs to live our very own Salesian charism with utmost Fidelity and Sense of Belonging to our Religious Family!
“GRATITUDE IS HEAVEN ITSELF!” May we create Heaven in our hearts and in all our FMA communities…today! Tomorrow! Forever!!
Long Live M.M. MUMBAI!!
