Media Release

Mumbai, Sep 24: A felicitation programme was recently organized to express gratitude to the services of two Emeriti Auxiliary bishops, bishop Bosco Penha and bishop Percival Fernandiz, at St Mary’s auditorium, Mazagaon.

After the welcome speech by the organizing committee, a meaningful prayer service was prepared by the Archdiocesan Liturgical Committee. This was then concluded with a prayer dance by the sisters belonging to the daughters of St Paul.

A curtain raiser by the OLCM, in the form of power point presentation with the background music ‘Thank you Lord’ showed visuals of the presence of the two bishops at several programmes connected with their apostolate. A surprise announcement that it was the 15th Episcopal anniversary of Cardinal Oswald Gracias on this very day brought in a round of applause. The school children presented a colourful cultural item heightened by their multi-colour costumes. This was organized by the Convent Girls School, Prabhadevi.

A toast to bishop Bosco was the magnificent work of Thomas Lobo ( connected with SCCs, Laity training and former vice chairman of APC) enumerating with relevant quotations the pioneering works of bishop Bosco; be it the SCC’s , Laity involvement, Liturgical Youth and Devotions’ apostolates as well as civic/political involvement of the church. His concluding thoughts summarized it well, “He leaves a legacy… for the dream church of the future”.

Elaine Charles (well known educationalist) raised the toast to Bishop Percy, spelling out his involvement in education, his well appreciated management talks, his witty anecdotes and his great passion to reach out in medical care, which prompted him to evolve the ‘Corpus Fund’.

The priests’ group (with Fr Alban in the lead) regaled the audience with songs, commonly heard, with fun – filled lyrics; all indicating the enthusiastic, committed involvement of the two bishops. The youth of Gorai paid their tribute to bishop Bosco in the form of a cultural dance, beautifully executed by Fr Sandeep Borges. The SCCs item brought the house down with an enactment in the song, presenting the joys and benefits of SCCs. The ‘dancing priests and nun’ was the showstopper, well choreographed by Fr Donald, Lorna and the team. The health wellness dance (under the leadership of Fr Charles Vas and Fr Stephan Fernandes) by the pretty looking girls as well as a child was to pay tribute to Bishop Percy’s involvement in health care.

Cardinal Oswald in the traditional symbolical way of thinking presented the two bishops with a shawl. Joaquim Reis (renowned lawyer and involved in laity training initiatives) and his wife Manuela Reis on behalf of the archdiocese did the honour of a floral tribute as well as a token gift to bishop Bosco. Albert D’Souza (well known businessman and having a full fledged technical college at Palghar) and his wife Elvina presented to Bishop Percy a beautiful bouquet and a gift to Cardinal Oswald on his completion of 15 years as the bishop. It was then time for the two bishops to ‘reply to the toast’. Bishop Bosco summed it well with the words ‘To be me, I need you’. He stated that the 13000 plus SCC animators belong to the work force that makes the archdiocese vibrant. Bishop Percy, while thanking God for his journey as a priest concluded with the touching meaningful poem ‘The Chosen Vessel’.

Cardnal then addressed the audience paying rich tributes to his two bishops, who made everyone proud by their commitment, dedication and passion for pastoral involvement. The Cardinal thanked the organizing committee led by Fr Felix D’Souza and expressed his gratefulness to the Jesuit Community for giving the venue for the programme.

A vote of thanks to the army of OLCM members, the master of ceremonies, Jude Fernandes, the volunteers, the workers, the sound mandap – light arrangements as well as the caterers for the snacks – box brought the evening function to a close, through not without the final thanksgiving hymn by Celine San Francis which invited all to raise their hands in the direction of the two bishops symbolizing ‘showers of blessings’.

An audience of 1200 which had limited representation of ten per parish and five from religious sister’s institutions, throughout enjoyed the felicitation programme, and this was then visible in form of long queues to greet the two bishops on the stage.