Fr. Domy Thomas, after completing his Licentiate in Canon Law in St. Peter`s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore, joined the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome on 5th September 2016 to do his doctorate in canon law. During the first academic year itself he successfully completed the prerequisites required and simultaneously also studied Italian and completed B2 Level in Italian. He chose the theme of his doctoral Research by the end of the year and got it approved by the University. The title of his Research was, Juridical and Pastoral Importance of Prenuptial Investigation: A Study of CIC Canon 1067 and CCEO Canon 784 with Special Reference to India. His hard work and determination helped him to complete the research work within three years and he submitted the thesis by the end of April 2019 to the university for approval. He got his thesis approved by 20 May 2019 and his Defense was scheduled for 18 June.

Just like Fr. Domy I was also excited and nervous as I was attending a doctoral defense for the first time. Around 40 people were at the venue to witness the defense. The presence of Fr. John Britto Muthuswamy, the Provincial, Fr. Thumma Mariadas, Fr. Michael Raj, Fr. Anish George and other confreres from the MSFS community in Rome was a great encouragement for him. Many of his companions, friends and relatives in Rome also attended the defense. The defense was good and the moderators were happy with the work that was presented. Although I did not understand anything of the content presented or discussed, which was in Italian, I understood when one of the three Professors announced ´Summa cum Laude`. Fr. Domy was given 89 out of 90 marks for his Thesis and Defense. They appreciated Fr. Domy for his work and defense, awarded him the doctorate and asked him to publish the thesis either fully or partially. Indeed, it was a joyful and proud moment for the entire Congregation and especially for Nagpur Province because he is the first from the Province to obtain an ecclesiastical doctorate. After the defense and conferral of the title, Fr. Domy thanked and invited everyone for refreshments. Fr Provincial then thanked and honored the professors with Indian shawls.

Congratulations Rev. Dr. Fr. Domy Thomas! Wishing you all the very best in your future ministry. Fr. Robin Xavier MSFS

May God grant eternal rest to Fr. Armind Nazareth who died on 2nd May at the age of 91 in Belgaum, Karnataka. His mortal remains are interred in the Uchgaon Catholic Cemetery, Belgaum. While missing his physical presence, we raise our grateful hearts to God for giving us a precious human gift in Father Armind. He was the Provincial of the erstwhile undivided province of Maharashtra Goa Province of which Nagpur Province, at that time, was a part. On behalf of all the confreres of Nagpur Province, I salute with great honour and esteem Fr Armind, whose legacy  in many respects, continues in our Province.

We the MSFS who knew him and worked with him admire the integrity of his life marked with simplicity, joy, gentleness and excellence. With felicitous decorum and respectful dignity he worked untiringly and generously as an educator, a formator, a provincial, a general councilor and above all as a pleasant and supportive confrere in communities to which he was assigned. Outstanding are some of his precious contributions to the life of the Congregation. After the Second Vatican Council, Father Armind played a significant role in preparing then, the draft of the Revised Constitutions. He was a joint -translator with other confreres of the two  Salesian classics , ‘The Treatise on the Love of God ‘ and ‘The Introduction to Devout Life’. His faithful presence for several years at the Salesian Seminar organized by the IIS, Bangalore and his contribution, added precious gems of Salesian reflections to the ongoing study and update by the MSFS and members of other Salesian families. The presence of the MSFS in the capital of our country, Delhi was a bold decision that he jointly took along with the Province to move to North India, in the service of the people.

A person of the caliber of Father Armind reveals a profound truth: vocation as MSFS, when lived to the full, is indeed a tremendous source of joy for oneself, and a transformative blessing and memory for generations to come. May Father Armind rest in peace.

23^rd April 2019 is a red letter day in the annals of SFS School, Neemuch. On this day at 5: 00 pm, the blessing and inauguration of the newly built St. Francis de Sales Adoration Convent and the school building extension took place at the hands of Rt. Rev. Dev Prasad Ganawa SVD, Bishop of Udaipur, in the presence of Fr. Muthuswamy, Provincial of Nagpur Province, and Sr. Agnet SABS, Provincial of Jyotiremei Province. This was followed by the Holy Eucharist. The parishioners together with the dignitaries, invitees and well-wishers gave thanks to God for the endeavours of our missionaries. During the homily, the Bishop lauded the missionaries for their yeomen service for the upliftment of the people. The melodious choir was led by Sr. Divya SABS. As the Bishop of Jhabua, he had earlier blessed the school building and today he was once again present to bless the convent and the school building extension. He wished the very best to the members of both the Congregations for the good work they were rendering in this place.

Soon after the mass all the dignitaries, that is, the Bishop, Provincials, Architect, Engineer and Contractor were felicitated with a shawl and a coconut. Sr. Amla SABS was the MC of the program and the vote of thanks was given by Sr. Arpita SABS. She spoke of the dream come true and how the Lord sent various people to labour and make this dream a reality. After the program all present joined for dinner. May God bless the efforts and hard work of the MSFS and SABS as they continue to serve God and His people.  Fr. Peter Dominic MSFS

Bangalore 3 December, 2018 (CCBI): His Holiness, Pope Francis has appointed His Excellency Most. Rev. Elias Gonsalves (57), until now Bishop of Amravati, Maharashtra as the new Archbishop of Nagpur. This ecclesiastical provision was made public in Rome on Monday, 3rd December, 2018, at noon local time, corresponding to 16:30 hours, Indian Standard Time.

Most Rev. Elias Gonsalves, was born on 4 July, 1961, in Chulna Village, Vasai Road, Thane, Maharashtra. He studied at St. Pius X Seminary, Mumbai and was ordained priest on 1 April, 1990 in Vasai, for the Archdiocese of Bombay. He has a B. A. in History and Economics, from Bombay University (1982), he did his studies in Community Based Development and Leadership, from St. Francis Xavier University, Coady Institute, Canada, and studies in Counselling.

He was Assistant Parish Priest at Nandakhal, Vasai (1990-1991) and Sandor, Vasai (1991-1997); Youth Coordinator for South Vasai Deanery (1993-1996); Priest in-charge at Roha (1997-2004); Priest in-charge at Panvel (2005-2008); Assistant Director and then Director, Centre for Social Action, Mumbai (2008-2012); Director, Sarvodaya Centre for Capacity Building, Mumbai (2009-2012). He was elected Bishop of Amravati on 11 July, 2012 and ordained on 29 September, 2012.

28th November2018 was a historically unforgettable day in Sundaraopeta village, Dharmajigudem parish, Diocese of Eluru. Fr. Katru Vinayanand was the first one to be ordained for the MSFS Congregation from this area of Andhra Pradesh. Rt. Rev. JayaRao Polimera D.D. Bishop of Eluru ordained Vinayanand a priest in the presence of Fr. John Britto Muthuswamy MSFS, Provincial of Nagpur Province, Fr. Johnson Gonsalves MSFS, Provincial Admonitor of Pune Province and Rector of Fransalian Seminary, Pune; many MSFS confreres, priests of Eluru diocese, religious nuns and lay people.

The Bishop preached about the identity, value and character of a priest and priesthood. He also shared about the present scenario of priests and religious living in society and the problems they have to face. He thanked the parents of Vinayanand and Sundarao peta village for offering a son of the soil to the church. During the felicitation program, Fr. Muthuswamy thanked the Bishop for ordaining Vinayanand for God’s service and for his inspiring homily on the priesthood, missionary vocation and challenges to the priesthood. A cultural program was staged on the occasion which was followed by a sumptuous meal for all. In the evening together with the family members and dear ones of Vinayanand, MSFS fathers of Orissa Apostolic Community, a few local priests, nuns and laity attended the thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration of the newly ordained priest. Nagpur Province is extremely happy to have one more priest for the service of the Lord and his people.                                                                        Fr Arun Ekka MSFS