On Sunday, September 14, after the Holy Mass, our parish community came together with great joy to celebrate the 50th birthday of our beloved Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Anil Prakash D'silva. The thanksgiving celebration was organized in the church portico by the Parish Pastoral Commission.
Fr. Anil, accompanied by his mother, joined the gathering as the faithful welcomed him warmly. The program was meaningfully compered by Mrs. Geneview Fernandes. The celebration began with a heartfelt welcome speech delivered by Mrs. Shanthi D’souza. Soon after, Fr. Anil cut the beautifully decorated birthday cake while the parish choir sang a melodious birthday song, adding to the festive spirit of the occasion.
As a token of love and gratitude, the Parish Pastoral Commission presented a special gift to Fr. Anil. Mr. Vincent Minezus then gave a touching introduction, highlighting the life, service, and pastoral journey of Fr. Anil. In response, Fr. Anil addressed the gathering with a few words of thanks and appreciation, expressing his deep joy in celebrating this milestone with the parish community.
Mrs. Winnifred Clara D’Souza proposed the vote of thanks, acknowledging all who contributed to making the event memorable. Following this, parishioners individually came forward to greet Fr. Anil with flowers, gifts, and their heartfelt wishes, creating an atmosphere filled with love, respect, and togetherness.
The celebration concluded with the distribution of sweets, leaving everyone with a sense of happiness and gratitude for the gift of Fr. Anil’s priesthood and presence in the parish. Truly, it was a blessed occasion that brought the entire parish family together in faith, joy, and fellowship.