PARTING WITH GRATITUDE, SENDING WITH BLESSINGS
The farewell gathering held by St Therese of the Child Jesus OCDS Community, in honor of Rev. Fr. Don Tony, Fr George Santumayor, Fr Diogo Proenca, and Fr Kiran Lobo was truly a warm and memorable occasion filled with love, gratitude, and fellowship.

The programme began with the invocation of the Holy Spirit, seeking God’s blessings upon the gathering and upon the friars as they prepare to take on their new responsibilities. This was followed by a warm welcome address, which set the tone for the evening by highlighting the valuable presence and contribution of the friars in the life of the community.

Soon after, everyone enjoyed a delicious hot cup of soup, creating a relaxed and joyful atmosphere for fellowship and interaction. A touching farewell speech was then delivered, thanking Rev. Fr. Don Tony in a special way for his care, encouragement, and efforts in accompanying the community during his time with them. Fr George, Fr Diogo and Fr Kiran too were acknowledged with heartfelt gratitude for their continued support, guidance and dedicated service to the community over the years.

Several members of the community also came forward to share their words of appreciation and fond memories. Their heartfelt expressions reflected the love, respect, and gratitude the community holds for all the friars. As our token of love and appreciation each friar was presented with a momento.

Fr. Don Tony D’Souza then shared a few words from his heart, thanking the community for the love, acceptance, and togetherness shown to him during his time with them. He expressed his gratitude for welcoming him as one of their own and appreciated the kindness and support extended to him by everyone.

To conclude the evening, the community joined together in singing the beautiful farewell hymn, “May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You Till We Meet Again,” which brought the gathering to a touching and emotional close, as the community wished all the friars God’s abundant blessings, good health, and success in their future mission and ministry. The farewell was indeed a beautiful expression of unity, gratitude, and Christian love.