Talk to the Youth

A brief talk to the youth of Don Bosco parish

I concluded my mission in Borivili with a briefing to a few people who seemed eager to walk the straight and narrow path, and help others travel on it as well. God willing, we will have another HSI Community started here in a couple of weeks.

Earlier in the day I had given a talk to the youth. 180 young men and women had registered, but nearly 300 showed up and as none of them seemed to regret they had come I was very happy. It was the first time in five years I was giving a talk in public wearing something other than my traditional black and white.

Lenten Mission, Borivili

Love one another ....

A section of the huge crowd

Discipleship Program March 19-21, 2009

Whenever there are obstacles, I know I can expect great things, and seeing as how there were more hurdles than usual to get this mission going, I knew it would be terrific. I wasn't wrong. The three day mission in Don Bosco Church in Borivili, Bombay from March 19-22 kept getting more and more anointed and over 1,500 people felt the power of God on the final day. Because of the crowds expected, the sessions were held in the open.

I was blessed to be with some of the loveliest priests I have encountered in Fr. Ronald, the parish priest of Don Bosco and Fr. Allwyn, who was instrumental in arranging the program. They - and the other priests - all went out of their way to make me feel welcome and comfortable. I will be ever grateful, especially to Fr. Allwyn who has the energy of a ten year old boy and the zeal to match it.

New HSI Community in Dar Es Salam, Tanzania

HSI launched its fifth Community (after Dubai, Fujairah, Chembur and Jebel Ali) in Dar Es Salam, Tanzania today. Fr. Siffredius Rwechungura will be supervising the community which has the blessings of Cardinal Pengo. Local resident Cajetan (Jerry) Misquita is heading the Community along with Pravina Rodrigues.

Lenten Mission, Pune

Immaculate Conception Church, Pune (March 10-12)

Fr. George, parish priest of Immaculate Conception Church, more popularly known as City Church among the populace, invited me to conduct a Lenten Mission in his parish. Knowing him to be a wonderful pastor, I didn't hesitate accepting his invitation and found myself blessed for it. The Church overfilled its capacity, but those standing didn't seem to mind the effort in the least. I spoke once again on the Seven Deadly Sins. My hosts - Michael and Maria Rebello - were the wonderful couple who had hosted me in the past - and probably will in the future as well, as I have been invited to do the Discipleship Program in two parishes in July. During the visit I paid my respects to Bishop Valerian D'Souza, another extremely blessed shepherd of God's flock.

Lenten Mission, Thane

St. John the Baptist Church, Thane (March 6-8)

After a hiatus of four months, I was back on the missionary trail with a Lenten Mission in St. John the Baptist Church in Thane, India. The subject was the Seven Deadly Sins and though it was the first time I was doing this series of talks it went down very well. Fr. Milton invited me to start a community in the parish beginning July 29, which pleased me immensely, because there were several people who expressed the desire to be part of something that would help them grow. This was one of the rare times when I have returned to a parish to preach, preferring to reach out to new people in new parishes.