Devotees throng to celebrate Fr. Agnel Jayanti at Fr. Agnel Ashram

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On 21st January, over 800 devotees of Ven. Fr. Agnelo D’Souza came from all over Mumbai to Fr. Agnel Ashram in Bandra, to celebrate his 156th Birth anniversary. The celebration was preceded by nine days of Novena.

The theme of the celebration was ‘Inspired by Ven. Fr. Agnelo, let us be Messengers of the Good News.’ Extolling the virtues of Ven. Fr. Agnelo, the main celebrant of the Eucharistic Celebration, Most Rev. Rethna Swamy, Bishop of Ahmedabad, said, “The man of prayer preached the gospel through his personal life. Ven. Fr. Agnelo was ready to help the poor and the needy at all times. He was kind like Jesus. He was true to his name ‘Agnelo’ which means lamb. He was meek and humble, yet he roared like a lion when he preached the Good News.” His rich legacy is continued by the Pilar Fathers today, known for their service to the marginalised sections of society.

Co-celebrants of the Eucharistic celebration were Rev. Fr. Saturnino Almeida, General Councillor of the Society of Pilar, Rev. Fr. Savio Coutinho, Provincial Superior of the Mumbai Province, Rev. Fr. Tomy Thomas, Provincial Superior of SVD Mumbai Province, Rev. Fr. Valerian D’Souza, Superior, Fr. Agnel Ashram, Bandra, among others.

Preceding the Eucharistic celebrations, there was a delightful cultural program by the students of Fr. Agnel School, Vashi and Ambernath, as well as a soul-stirring musical performance by the Balbhavan boys of Bandra.

Born in Anjuna, Goa in 1869, Ven. Fr. Agnelo was a key member of the Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier (SFX) or commonly known as the Society of Pilar. Known for his intercession for the intentions of devotees, prayers were offered for the early canonisation of Ven. Fr. Agnelo.