By Sr. Catherine Fernandes
The annual outreach of Salesian Co-operators on 17-18 February 2018 comprised of also other members of the Salesian Family. We were more than 50 at Auxilium Youth Animation Centre – Dahanu, including Fr. Diego Nunes and Sr. Catherine Fernandes – Delegates of the Salesian Family, Mr. Ketan Gala – President of the National Federation of the Salesian Past Pupils, and Sr. Collette Gonsalves – local Delegate of L.V. Nivas – Ahmednagar.
The group was delighted with our beautiful chapel, where the Eucharist was celebrated for us. Sr. Mangal Kolge had arranged for us a visit to Hadalpada village, where we came face to face with the stark reality of tribal life. The women and children gratefully accepted whatever we gave them; one of them reciprocated our gesture with typical simplicity by offering us a bundle of drumsticks. We were happy to participate in the Sunday Mass at the small but vibrant parish church, and to spend some time on the beach. The Coaching Class children had come in large numbers, almost 110 of them, from far flung villages to welcome us with a short but lively programme including a classic Warli dance, with the help of Sr. Mary Antony and their teachers. We had been looking forward to meeting them, and had carried lots of stationery for each of them, and sweets and biscuits, too. We enjoyed the sumptuous meals and cosy lodgings.
Fr. Diego took this opportunity to welcome into the Salesian Family, with red roses, the new Co-operators and a few aspirants from different Units.
Sr. Catherine communicated to the participants the salient points discussed at the South Zonal Conference at Vijayawada (AP) in January 2018.
It was a pleasant and prolific experience, thanks especially to our Sisters of AYAC.
