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Qui., Mar.

“Your presence is our source of inspiration and strength, your spiritual guidance, especially these days, will help us to take forward Pauline mission in India,” said Fr Varghese Gnalian, the Provincial Superior, while welcoming the Superior General of the Society of St Paul, at our Community of Mumbai, on Sunday, 23 February 2020.

Most Rev. Fr Valdir Josè De Castro has come to India for a Fraternal Visit from 23rd to 28th, February, 2020 and he is accompanied by Rev. Fr Jose Pottayil, General Councillor and President of CTIA (International Technical Team for Apostolate).

On Monday, 24 February 2020, the Superior General chaired a daylong animation programme for our Superiors, Delegates, Bursars, Directors of Apostolic Sectors, Formators and members of the community of Mumbai. The themes of the day were Pauline Identity and Synodality & Pauline Mission. Further, he interacted with the participants and asked them to relaunch the Pauline mission with new enthusiasm, along with personal and communitarian commitment.

The following day Fr De Castro interacted with Superiors, Delegates & Bursars; the Council for Apostolate; the Provincial Government as well. He attentively listened to their concerns and future plans for the Province. From 26th onwards, the Superior General was available for personal audience, and many of our members personally met him and were happy with the outcome of their meetings.

On Friday, 28 February 2020, the Superior General paid a visit to all apostolic sectors in the Bandra campus, and he also personally met the members who are elderly and sick.

During this fraternal visit, Fr De Castro also celebrated the Eucharist and spent ample time with the communities of the Daughters of St Paul and the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master in Mumbai respectively.

On account of the global outbreak of Coronavirus and the strict screening at Kochi International Airport for passengers arriving from Italy, Superior General’s visit to our senior members in the Community of Kochi was cancelled. Having fruitfully completed his visit to India, Fr De Castro is scheduled to leave for Rome from Mumbai in the early hours of Saturday, 29 February 2020.

At the end of the visit, Superior General expressed his satisfaction the way all the deliberations were organized and the active participation of the members. While all the members were enriched with the gracious presence of the Father of the Congregation and his ever smiling face infused new life and energy in them.

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