BIS Mumbai
BOSCO INFORMATION SERVICE # 3182
DON BOSCO BELONGS TO ALL
Benjamin D’souza & Yvonne Gomes
NORTHERN ARABIAN VICARIATE, OCTOBER 18, 2012 : A Week long canonical visit by our bishop Camillo Ballin, the bishop of the Northern Arabian Vicariate, began with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the church of St. Therese of the child Jesus on Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at the 6.30 pm. The entire Salesian community was present with the bishop for the Holy Eucharist, except for Fr. Franco, who is with his ailing mother in India.
After the Eucharist, the bishop met the family cell. There are 14 members in the family cell comprising of Indians from various rites and regions. We also have one family from the US and Britain. The prime objective of the family cell is to extend support to families in crises. The family cell looks after its own formation through monthly meetings during which the members study and present church documents on issues related to family. In addition to their own formation, the family cell organizes a monthly programme for families, which includes – Holy mass, workshop on marital issues and finally 
lighter moments through party games. A family renewal programme is also on the anvil.
After the family cell, the bishop addressed the Salesian cooperators. There are Twenty-Five cooperators and Twenty -One aspirants. Although, most of the cooperators are from India (Latin and Syrian Catholics), we also have cooperators from Pakistan, Philippines and the United States. A brief report was read by the coordinator which highlighted the various responsibilities taken up by the cooperators and the events organized during the course of the year. The cooperators animate adoration, organize confessions and conduct party games every 
first Saturday of the month. They organized one day programme for the altar servers during the summer vacation. Most of them are involved in the catechism which puts them in direct contact with the young.
The bishop was pleased to learn about the high involvement of the cooperators in the spiritual life of the parish. His parting request was, “Don Bosco belongs to all therefore, a greater effort must be made to invite people from all nationalities besides India, into the family of the cooperators in the Salmiya unit.”
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