Rev. Fr Ivo Coelho SDB, former General Councillor for Formation and the present Rector of Divyadaan, Nashik, along with Rev. Fr Robert Pen SDB, Vice Provincial of the Mumbai Province, Fr Blany Pinto SDB and Fr Valerian, visited the Provincial House, Panbazar, on August 7. The visitors were accorded a warm welcome by the members of the Provincial House community.

Fr Ivo presided over the Holy Mass the following day, during which he reflected on the centrality of faith in the life and mission of every Christian and Salesian. He reminded the community that faith is the most important foundation of life and the basis of all that we do. Speaking particularly about formation and vocations, he observed that families rooted in faith are more likely to nurture and encourage vocations.

He encouraged the confreres to deepen their personal faith and to allow it to shape their relationship with God and with the people entrusted to their care. He emphasised that a strong faith enables Salesians to come closer both to God and to the young and to serve them with greater commitment and love.

Following the Holy Mass, Rev. Fr Bivan Rodriques Mukhim SDB, Vice Provincial, formally welcomed the visiting confreres. As a gesture of honour and fraternity, he presented Fr Ivo with Bodo and Garo traditional mufflers.

In his words of welcome, Fr Bivan expressed gratitude to Fr Ivo for his significant contribution to Salesian formation. He recalled that Fr Ivo had practically prepared the entire Ratio before completing his tenure as General Councillor for Formation. Fr Bivan also thanked him, on behalf of the Provincial and the confreres of the Province, for his continued care and accompaniment of the Salesian brothers from the Province of Mary Help of Christians, Guwahati, who are pursuing their philosophical studies at Divyadaan, Nashik.

The visit provided an enriching occasion of fraternity, faith-sharing and communion among the Salesian confreres of the different Provinces, while strengthening the bonds between the Province of Mary Help of Christians, Guwahati and Divyadaan, Nashik.