“Leadership is a selfless service”, he told Father Clive, “thank you for accepting it”. The new Provincial will take charge of 18 Salesian institutions in the Panjim Konkan region, from Kolhapur in Maharashtra, Goa to Mangalore in Karnataka that has 105 Salesians working in it.

During the solemn concelebrated Holy Eucharist, taking the example of Jesus, and marking the ultimate goal of leadership as, service to others, Father Artime, instructed Father Telles during the installation ceremony to look after his Salesian brother religious especially those who are weak and going through rough situations.  Secondly, he advised him to take care of the institutions that serve the youth of the province especially those who are poor and at disadvantage.  And finally, to take care of himself in the bargain.  Leadership is not easy. Leader is not a boss. He is a servant. He has to reach out, take care of the poor and the needy, he added.

Looking at the leaders of the 11 Salesian provinces of South Asia present for the installation ceremony Father Artime said, you must strive to make your institutions as the house of Valdocco, Don Bosco’s first institution for the poor and the needy where every youth was welcomed. It was marked by love, concern and service to them.

Father Artime thanked Father Felix Fernandes who completed his six year term as a Provincial of the Panjim province.  You have shouldered great responsibility and worked with utmost diligence, I thank you, he said.

Provincial Father Telles thanked the Rector Major for placing his trust in him. He thanked Regional Councillor for South Asia Father Biju Michael. Recalling the last six years, he thanked Father Felix Fernandes for grooming him up and preparing him for this task as he worked with him. The family members of Father Telles and Father Fernandes were present for the occasion.

Later Father Edison Fernandes raised the toast to the outgoing Provincial Father Felix Fernandes at the formal felicitation cum lunch programme held at the Don Bosco Oratory, Panjim.  He thanked Father Fernandes for nurturing the Salesians and the province into a committed spiritual endeavour to carry out the mission of Don Bosco our father and founder in the province of Panjim. 

Speaking on the occasion Father Felix Fernandes thanked God for blessing him with the Salesian vocation and entrusting him with the task of leading the province of Panjim which he acknowledge was only possible with faith and trust that he found in prayer before Lord Jesus.  The last six years reminds me that I am only a servant called to serve the Lord said Father Fernandes.

Addressing the gathering Father Clive said, am grateful to the Rector Major Father Angel Fernandez Artime for installing me as the fourth Provincial of Panjim Salesian Province.  To the Regional, South Asia. Father Biju Michael for his quite yet effective presence.  Father Telles also thanked Father Felix for mentoring him right from the start.  And finally, he thanked his family for standing by him and supporting him in his vocation. 

Students from the various Don Bosco institutions from the province of Panjim, put up a cultural program in felicitation of the new provincial.  Father Tamatur Cardozo coordinated the program.

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