by Father Brian Moras
PINGULI, AUGUST 11, 2015: It's the Tour de France season and pre-novices of Bosco Udyogshala, Pinguli took to their bikes in the 'Marian Cycling Pilgrimage' on August 7 to begin their Marian month 
celebrations.
The youth cycled a distance of eleven kilometres to Holy Family Church, Mangaon in around 30 minutes.
Father Alex D'Mello, Parish Priest, organised the programme, which consisted of a Rosary being recited, it was followed by a brief Adoration Service (being the First Friday of the month) and it concluded with the Holy Eucharist.
Father Brian Moras, the main celebrant, encouraged the parishioners to promote a 'Culture of Vocations' among their children by praying for them and actively encouraging them.
"The Church needs more youngsters to join the Priesthood and Religious Life, hence let us be generous with the Lord," he exhorted.
Father D'Mello thanked the Salesians and the Pre-Novices for being present at the celebration.
"It is very symbolic," he said, "that you come on the Bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco."
The entire service was a prayerful and a meaningful experience for the Pre-Novices and the parishioners.
Since most of the Pre-Novices are not native Konkani speakers, they were prepared over a week and a half with the appropriate prayers for the Rosary and the responses for the Holy Eucharist.
They interacted with the parishioners in Konkani after the Holy Mass, which was a commendable achievement, given that they were new to the language.