St Andrew’s College Rector earns Doctorate degree

Fr Magi Murzello of the Archdiocese of Bombay has successfully defended his doctoral thesis, and has earned the title of Doctor of Philosophy in Humanities (in English) from the University of Mumbai.

His thesis, titled English Language Acquisition through ICT Tools among First Generation Learners in Select Missionary Schools in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, represents a significant contribution to the field of education and the manner in which English is taught in schools to first generation learners who are fluent in a regional language i.e. Marathi, Tamil, Gujarati, etc. The open defence viva-voce took place on June 3, 2025, and was met with high praise from Dr Shivaji Sargar (Chairman of the Committee), Dr Mehrunnisa Pathan (External Examiner), Prin. Dr Kishan Pawar (Research Supervisor), as well as other attendees.

Fr (Dr) Magi Murzello is currently the Rector, St Andrew’s College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Bandra; Principal, St Andrew’s High School, Bandra; and Editor, EduFOCUS, the magazine of the Archdiocesan Board of Education (ABE).

We congratulate Fr (Dr) Magi Murzello on this outstanding academic achievement, and wish him continued success in his future endeavours.

Musical staged by Sacred Heart Church, Santa Cruz

Sacred Heart Church, Santa Cruz staged a Musical titled ‘SHOW BUSINESS’ on June 7 at St Andrew’s Auditorium, as the first event to celebrate the Parish Feast.

The Musical gave an opportunity to children, youth, adults and seniors to showcase their talents, with the help of professional artistes. It was conceptualised by Mimosa Almeida-Pinto of the parish, presenting the best of Broadway hit songs, put up by the choir and soloists, accompanied by a live band, and a youthful set of dancers. The ventriloquist, 'Yoko' came up with comments that not only introduced the sections, but kept the audience in splits of laughter. The relevant audiovisuals and excellent choreography, along with colourful costumes, added to the beauty of the Musical.

Months of rehearsals bore fruit which was witnessed not only by the Santa Cruz people, but parishioners from Thane, Borivli, South Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Andheri, Chembur, and of course, Bandra.

The magnificent, mind-blowing conceptualisation by Mimosa needs praise and gratitude. God's blessings in abundant measure on this venture needs a grateful mention.

Fr Felix D’Souza, Parish Priest

Fr Ashley Miranda is new SDB Provincial

The Salesians of Don Bosco in the Province of St Francis Xavier, Mumbai (INB) are pleased to announce the appointment of Fr Ashley Miranda SDB as the new Provincial for a six-year term from 2025 to 2031. The appointment was made by the Rector Major, Fr Fabio Attard, with the consent of his General Council.

Fr Ashley Miranda will succeed Fr Savio Silveira SDB, whose faithful and dedicated service as Provincial since 2019 has left a significant mark on the life and mission of the Province. The Province expresses deep gratitude to Fr Savio for his pastoral leadership, fraternal presence, and tireless commitment over these years.

Born on May 1, 1965, in Udupi, Karnataka, Fr Ashley joined the Salesians after being inspired during his schooling at Don Bosco, Borivli. He made his first profession on May 24, 1983, and was ordained a priest on December 18, 1993, at Don Bosco’s Shrine, Matunga. A Doctor in Philosophy from the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome, he has contributed significantly to the formation of young Salesians, especially during his long tenure as professor, formator, and Rector at Divyadaan, Nashik.

He has also served as Formation Delegate, Novice Master, and Vice Provincial of the INB Province since 2019. Known for his warm and affable nature, deep spiritual insight, and personal accompaniment, Fr Ashley is admired across the Salesian Family as a thoughtful leader and pastoral guide.

Fr Ashley Miranda will be installed as the 12th Provincial of the Salesian Province of St Francis Xavier, Mumbai, on September 8, 2025, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the Shrine of Don Bosco’s Madonna, Matunga, Mumbai. This special occasion will be an opportunity for the Salesian Family to come together in prayerful support and fraternal encouragement, as Fr Ashley takes up the mantle of leadership in Don Bosco’s name.

We entrust Fr Ashley Miranda to the care of Mary Help of Christians and Don Bosco, confident that his leadership will continue to bear fruit for the young, especially the poor and the abandoned.

Source: BIS

Better Together - Young couples one-day programme

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Youth United for Christ, is organising an empowering one-day programme for young couples (married 0 to 10 years) designed to strengthen their marriage relationship through faith, love, and shared commitment. The day includes: Praise and Worship, Insightful Talks, Adoration, and Fellowship & Fun! Sessions cover: Role of Husband and Wife, Sexual Ethics and Natural Family Planning (NFP), Communication in Marriage, and Dealing with In-Laws.  The programme will be conducted by Dr Ehrlson and team (ENT surgeon, husband, father of 3, National pro-life leader & NFP trainer) on June 29, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the CCR Office, Salvation            Church, Dadar.

For queries, WhatsApp: +91 98209 60802.

Celebrating World Environment Day at Shelter Don Bosco

To celebrate World Environment Day on June 5, a group of six youth and two staff members from Shelter Don Bosco had the opportunity to attend a Nature Walk and Workshop organised by the Nehru Science Centre in Worli, Mumbai. The event was organised on the theme - 'Beat Plastic Pollution' and raised issues like plastic pollution, sustainability and increasing biodiversity. The programme, held in the beautiful and forest-like premises of Nehru Science Centre, was divided into three workshop sessions.

The first session - Nature Walk and Bird Walking with Nature Bingo - was held from 7:45 to 9:00 a.m. The facilitators guided the group through the expansive campus which was filled with a variety of trees and birds, each of which was explained with meticulous detail to the group. The Nature Bingo game, played along the way, was a fun and interactive experience which the group enjoyed.

In the second session - DIY Home Gardening - from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., the group was taught how to make homemade pots using plastic bottles. Creative techniques were taught to the group using natural and available materials. This hands-on activity was both educational and enjoyable, sparking in the group an interest in gardening and Nature.

The final session - 'Butterfly Garden Inauguration and Tree Plantation' - was held from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The group learnt about the lifecycle of butterflies, their importance in ecosystems, and the different varieties that are present in a garden. Following this, the group got an opportunity to plant trees in the garden, which was a beautiful experience to feel more connected to Nature and have a sense of responsibility.

Following this, a 'Brunch with Butterflies' was organised, in which the group had time to share and interact with each other over light snacks. This event was very enriching as it provided the group a deeper appreciation for Nature. It was a memorable and meaningful experience for the group from Shelter, and inspired them to take steps to make their own spaces greener.

Alfred Menezes SDB, BIS Mumbai

Skills for SCC Animators 2025

I had the opportunity to participate in a two-day informative workshop on ‘Skills for SCC Animators’ at Sarvodaya, Goregaon on May 10-11, 2025. The workshop (open to the whole diocese) helped us to experience the skills required to bring the community together.

On Day 1, we had great guest speakers, including Adrian Rosario (who took us through various topics like the SCC Vision Statement, Process of building SCCs, Conversations in the Spirit), Francis Vaz (who explained the concept of Cluster Formation and Functioning), Clipsy Banji (Community Organisation), Rena Rodricks (Visiting), Bishop Allwyn (The Relevance of SCCs vis a vis the Synod on Synodality).

We gathered at the Sarvodaya Grotto for the evening Rosary, and continued with an interactive discussion on involving youth and children, as well as working youth (through YCW), by Willrine, supported by Rena and Adrian. We ended the day in solace and peace with thoughts of the beautiful meaningful day.

I stayed back at Sarvodaya, and had a restful night, all energised for Day 2. We met in the hall for Gospel Sharing, followed by a session on the Role of an Animator by Reena Poddar and Communication Skills by Roland. We worked on a Strategy for Action in our own SCCs and parishes. Nisha Drego took us through her experience of forming and sustaining clusters. We closed the workshop with the Eucharist celebrated by Fr Gilbert de Lima.

The workshop was an eye-opener and gave me a brand new perspective to the word ‘Animator’. It brought about a change in the way I look at SCCs. The experiences that I took from here will help me and all the animators who attended this workshop. It opened new avenues to bring about changes within our communities.

The highlight of Reena’s session was when she washed and kissed my feet, and emphasised that this is what we need to do within our community. It was an emotional and heart-warming gesture that made me realise that we need to humble ourselves to touch the lives of people.

• Our Vision Statement ‘No One Should Be in Want’ is so Apt, and makes us want to Live the mission with a purpose.

• MBWA (Management By Walking Around) will always help us animators explore the lanes and by-lanes of the community in search of people in need.

• Identify Influencers: Some people can motivate and influence others; we need to tap and identify them, and get them to assist us in bringing the youth back to the community. (See photos on mumbaiscc.in)

I am a transformed person thanks to this highly interactive workshop, and I will use the ideas and experiences to help build a better community for my people.

Alsten Pereira, St Joseph Church, Juhu

Courtesy: Celebrating Community – Pentecost issue