Panjim, Apr. 1, 2019: The Rector Major, Fr Angel Fernandez Artime, 10th successor of Don Bosco, won the hearts of the Salesian family and Goans with his smile and his simplicity.

Fr Angel, who is on his first visit to Goa and fourth overall to India, says the prime reason for his visit is “to encourage the Salesian family in their wonderful work”.

“Everywhere I went, I was amazed to find wonderful people, especially the youth who are full of vitality and want to use the resources together,” said the Rector Major while addressing the media, at Don Bosco Panjim, on Saturday evening.

“Right from Guwahati to Kochi, despite 26 languages in the country the Salesian’s perspective is education which will be a good medium for the next 20 or so years,” Fr Angel added.

He related how about 1,500 youth of different religions were capable of staying together in one place at Guwahati and working together for a common aim and could relate in one universality.

Elected as the Rector Major of the Salesians in May 2014, by the Salesian General Chapter 27, Fr Angel has been to over 87 different countries and has visited over 134 Salesian provinces.

The Salesians have 10 houses in the Goa province, three in Sindhudurg and six in Karnataka.

Later in the evening, the Rector Major celebrated a concelebrated mass along with Dr Filipe Neri Ferrao, Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Rt Rev Allwyn Barretto bishop of Sindhudurg and over 15 priests.

After apologising for not delivering his homily in English, Fr Angel exhorted the faithful in his native Spanish with Fr Felix Fernandes, Salesian Provincial of Panjim as the translator. At the end of the service, Fr Angel met the faithful and won their hearts with his smile and his individual approach.

During his meeting with the media, the Rector Major answered a few questions, one of them being the threat of terrorism.

“If we want humanity to go forward we have to invest in education. Violence will not bring peace, but investing in education and dialogue will halt the birth of extremists and drive away the terrorists,” he added.

(heraldgoa)