On June 30, the Daughters of St. Paul celebrated their platinum jubilee marking the 75th anniversary of their arrival in India with a solemn Eucharistic celebration of thanksgiving.
We share the reflections of Archbishop John Rodrigues of Mumbai, who presided at the Mass in St. Theresa’s Church in Bandra, a suburb of India’s financial capital. Also present at the celebration were Bishop Thomas D’Souza of the Diocese of Vasai, along with about thirty priests and religious, as well as benefactors, collaborators, and members of the faithful.
In his homily, Archbishop Rodrigues recalled the words of the founder of the Pauline Family, Blessed James Alberione:
“Everything comes from God and everything leads to the Magnificat. Alberione had the grace to discern God’s will at every stage of his life, a gift that also inspired the first Pauline missionaries who arrived in India 75 years ago. We thank God for his great foresight and for those pioneers who came to India 75 years ago to begin their mission, called to be bearers of the light of Christ in the world. It is a light that must shine, enlightening minds and hearts and helping people recognize what is just and what is wrong.
We are deeply grateful to the Daughters of St. Paul for dedicating these 75 years to helping people encounter Christ through their media apostolate and to grow courageously in the knowledge of God, thus becoming witnesses to the Gospel.”
