By Elvis Fernandes
Mumbai, Feb 15, 2025: A Catholic priest was among those awarded by Maharashtra’s leading newspaper for their exceptional and dedicated services in various fields.
Father Saturnino Almeida, a member of the Society of Pilar, was chosen for his services in education.
He and others received the Sakaal Sanman 2025 awards from Ashish Shelar, Maharashtra Minister for Information and Technology, at a ceremony on February 12 in Bandra, a suburb of Mumbai. Among those present was Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The Sakaal Sanman 2025 awards, instituted by Sakaal, a Marathi-language daily newspaper, honored Father Almeida for developing a premier educational complex in Vashi, an upmarket residential and commercial node in Navi Mumbai.
He is a key member of the Agnel Ashram community that set up Fr Agnel School in Vashi in 1982 that later developed into an educational complex.
Father Almeida entered the field of education and community service in 1968 when he came to Mumbai. When Fr. Agnel Multipurpose School was set up in Vashi by Pilar Father C Rodrigues in 1982, Father Almeida came to Vashi with Father Orlando Rodrigues.
The Vashi complex is part of the Agnel Region of the Society of Pillar. It includes the school, Balbhavan (children’s home), hostels for students, a technical institute, a diploma college, an engineering college, a management institute, a law college and a residential wing.
It also houses the Centre for Innovation and Business Acceleration, a start-up hub. The Agnel Sports Complex, the astro turfs and the floodlit basketball courts have nurtured a number of national and international players.
Father Almeida has served as the principal of the school, managing director of the Agnel Education Complex and the regional head of the Agnel Region. He is now one of the councillors to the congregation’s superior general.
Father Almeida has also served as the vice president of the Maharashtra Basketball Association.
Hearty congratulations to the Reverend Saturnino Almeida.