DON BOSCO BHAVAN HISTORY SAVEDI, AHMEDNAGAR
The Salesians took up the parish of St. John’s Church, Bhingar, from the Jesuits in 1986. This parish encompassed the entire Nagar district, including Savedi and the surrounding areas. The Salesians urgently felt that there was a need to own a separate plot, so, at the request of Fr. Loddy Pires, the than Provincial, Fr. William Falcao began to look for a plot of land.
In the Beginning…
The Salesians purchased 6 ½ acres of land in 1988 and 2 ½ acres of land in 2007 at Savedi. It had significant advantages since it was situated near the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) of Ahmednagar. It held out prospects for a flourishing youth ministry among the population that had settled for work in the vicinity, comprising the villages of Nagapur, Gajanan, Wadgaon Gupta, Renuka Nagar, and Savedi. Every Wednesday, being a holiday for the MIDC, a Mass was celebrated in each of these locations. A temporary Multipurpose Hall was built in 1989, and from then onwards, the Holy Eucharist was celebrated for the Catholics of the whole locality.
The very same year, the Salesians, began a small technical school. The first batch of technical students had just ten boys. These boys resided on the site. What began in a small way gradually grew and went on the train a number of poor boys of the Ahmednagar region who were able to procure jobs in the many factories and workshops in the newly setup MIDC in the vicinity. Soon after settling down in Savedi, the Salesians also began cultivating a part of the property, the yields of which, were used to support the boarding at Bhingar.
Our Pioneers:
Fr. William Falcao: He planted the seed of the Salesian mission
Fr. Thomas D’Costa: He watered and saw to the growth and progress of the mission
The boarders at Bhingar attended the Sacred Heart Marathi School. This boarding was gradually phased out and a new school with boarding was started at Savedi. The school began with 250 students. 60 of these were admitted as boarders. Bro. Tony D’Souza was asked to reside at Savedi to take care of the new school and boarding. He was ably assisted by Cl. Darryl D’Souza
The pastoral needs of the Catholic population in the villages situated along the Aurangabad Road continued to be looked after by the new community at Savedi. There was no shortage of experiences of anxiety and hardship during those early days due to the lack of electricity and water supply. Vested interests of politicians also severely delayed the recognition of the middle school, which in turn retarded the number of admissions. Scorpions and snakes frequented the place, and the lack of a proper road leading to the school increased the menace of robberies. Clearing land and court cases also caused great tension and consumed a lot of time. It seemed as if the problems would never end.
Educational Institutions
on June 1990 Marathi school began in Savedi. In 1991 Fr Solomon Rapol, the assistant parish priest of St. John’s Church, Bhingar, was given charge of a new school. He came to Savedi with eight boys of Standard VIII in August. In August, Bro. Manuel Murzello joined Fr. Solomon. Together they began the work at Savedi under the leadership of Fr. William Falcao. In the year 1991, the school received its recognition. It comprised standards I, II and VIII and had a total strength of 76 students. The Principal was Fr. William Falcao, and he operated from Bhingar. On 7th June 1992, Fr. Thomas D’Costa and Bro Tony D’Souza came to stay at Savedi. On 9th June Cl. Dyrrel D’Souza arrived at Savedi for the practical training. With this the first Salesian community at Savedi was complete.
On April 07, 1993, the foundation stone for the construction of the Don Bosco bhavan building was laid and was completed on September 16, 1994. The cultivation of the fields was seized and the land was used as a playground. June 16, 1995, was a red- letter day, for it was on this day, that the parish of Savedi was established with Fr. Thomas D’Costa as the parish priest. This new parish was detached from the mother parish of Bhingar together with the parish of St. Anne’s Ahmednagar. Its jurisdiction was defined, and it gradually developed its own identity. The parish comprises the MIDC areas surrounding Savedi and those from the 13 villages along the Aurangabad and Manmad road and has about 2500 Catholics. Since June 1997, the parish also had a new cemetery land situated on the banks of the Sina River. The house was canonically erected in 1997, and Father Thomas D’Costa was appointed as the first Rector of the community, comprising Fr. James Tuscano, the Administrator, Fr. Cyril D’souza, the Prefect of Studies and Clerics Milton D’Cunha and George Miranda as practical trainees.
Village Ministry/Construction of Village Chapels
Fr. Thomas D’Costa took up the construction of the village chapel. He was instrumental in having several village chapels with the help of generous donors from the Missio. Many generous collaborators from Don Bosco Parish, helped in building the village chapels.
Blessing of renovated Chapels
30th January 1997: St Joseph chapel at Bahirwadi.
Sacred Heart Chapel at Ujjani.
Our Lady of Rosary Chapel at Jehur.
Blessing of New Chapels
20 September 1997: Our Lady of Fatima chapel at Pimplegaon Malvi.
21″ February 1998: Our Lady of Lourdes chapel at Dongargan Gaon.
17th April 1999: A Grotto at Sasewadi was blessed.
28th April 2000: Infant Jesus chapel at Imampur Mala.
4th Noveber 2000: Our Lady of Fatima Chapel at Shendi
10 August 2002: Holy Spirit Chapel at Dongargan Mala
Holy Cross Chapel at Imampur Gaon.
2014-2015: Our Lady of Velenkani chapel at Pokhardi
On 20 June 2002, a cross was erected on top of the hill at Dongargan mala. On 18th March 2003, a huge cross was erected on top of the hill at Ujjani. This cross was blessed by Fr Ivo Coelho.
On 7th April 2003, a new cross was blessed at Nandgaon by Fr Thomas D’Costa.
Our Benefactors
Good works are sustained by the generosity of good people. Our benefactors have been our partners in our work of reaching out to the poor and the marginalised. Fr. Aurelius Maschio was a tower of strength and support for all the Salesians working in Savedi. We owe our gratitude to him for his special love for our mission. Without the help of all our benefactors, we would not achieve much. We are especially grateful and thankful to:
Ella and Guiseppe Delotti (Italy)
Grumello Del Monte (Italy)
Mr. C. Meghjee Shah (Mane, Seychelles)
Our Animators
The journey of thousand miles began with one step and at every step this institute was blessed with able and committed men of God. They were sent to build Gods kingdom, to educate and to evangelize. With Don Bosco and Mary help of Christian they have worked tirelessly for the Lord. For the past 25 years, this task has been gracefully carried out by Salesians who were entrusted with a great responsibility of animating the mission of Don Bosco in Savedi:
Thomas D’Costa 1997-2003
William Falcao 2003-2009
Manuel Murzello 2009-2015
Vishwas Pereira 2015-2021
Richard D’silva 2021-
Our Pastors:
Fr. Thomas D’Costa 1995-2003
William Falcao 2003-2009
Manuel Murzello 2014-2015
Manuel Murzello 2009-2012
Augustine Pereira 2012-2014
Vishwas Pereira 2015-2021
Richard D’Silva 2021-