Dr. John Singarayar SVD –
On Wednesday, June 18th, 2025, celebrations swept through the Janseva Society Campus in Tala of Raigad district, Maharashtra. The occasion marked the inauguration of the newly established Community and Human Resources Development Center—a milestone not only in brick and mortar, but in spirit and solidarity.
More than 200 people gathered under the soft warmth of the morning rain: community members, tribal families, supporters, benefactors, missionaries, and distinguished guests, all brought together by shared history and renewed mission. The day marked the Society of the Divine Word’s 150 years of committed service to humanity and, more intimately, Janseva Society’s 13 years of focused work with the Katkari tribe—a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group in Maharashtra.
The celebration began with a thanksgiving Eucharist, solemnly presided over by His Grace, Most Rev. John Rodrigues, Archbishop of Bombay. The Eucharistic celebration served as both an offering of gratitude and spiritual grounding for what the Janseva Society envisions ahead. In his homily, the Archbishop reflected on the deep connection between faith and service, encouraging all present to remain steadfast in uplifting the marginalized with dignity and love. He described the new center as a “sanctuary of transformation,” a space born from faith in action.
Following the Eucharist, the blessing and inauguration ceremony began with a heartfelt prayer song by the Janseva social workers—a moving invocation that captured the hopes, dreams, and spirit of the community. The melody carried across the center, echoing messages of peace, service, and new beginnings. This was followed by the formal blessing of the center by the Archbishop and ceremonial ribbon cutting by Rev. Fr. Tomy Thomas, SVD, Provincial Superior of the India Mumbai Province.
In his address, Fr. Tomy Thomas acknowledged the Society’s long journey, recalling its tireless work across regions and its mission to walk alongside the most excluded. He underscored how this center represented not just a structure, but living testimony to Janseva’s enduring relationship with the Katkari people. “For thirteen years,” he said, “we have listened, learned, and labored beside the Katkari community. Today, we give shape to a vision where development means dignity, and inclusion is no longer a promise but a practice.”
Fr. Nickson Gabru, Director of Janseva Society, stood at the podium with evident emotion. His speech was both reflection and tribute—to the community, the collaborators, and generations of SVD missionaries who laid the foundation of this mission. “The Katkari people have taught us resilience and faith,” he shared. “This center is more than a resource hub—it is a place of learning, healing, and transformation. It is their space, their future, and their voice that will flourish here.”
The program included a meaningful moment of recognition as the Janseva Society honored those who have been part of its journey. In the felicitation ceremony, all former directors, treasurers, and regents of Janseva Society were invited to the stage and honored for their contributions over the years. Each name called served as a reminder of the Society’s legacy of service—individuals who had, in their own ways, helped build the bridge between compassion and action.
What made the day particularly special was the strong presence and participation of the Katkari community. The inauguration belonged as much to them as to the Society. Their stories, long silenced by marginalization, now found space and recognition in this newly built center. With facilities aimed at providing vocational training, supplementary education, healthcare awareness, and leadership development, the center aspires to become a springboard for self-reliance and social inclusion.
The program was followed by lunch, prepared with love and care by women’s groups. It was not merely a meal but a communion of cultures—conversations shared over rice and vegetables, laughter that filled the open air, and the feeling that something powerful had truly begun.
The day’s festivities demonstrated the transformative power of sustained commitment. For 13 years, Janseva Society has worked alongside the Katkari people, understanding their needs, respecting their culture, and building trust through consistent presence. This center represents the culmination of that partnership—a physical manifestation of hope, opportunity, and mutual respect.
As the day drew to a close, there was no doubt that this was a historic milestone—not only for the Society of the Divine Word but for every individual whose life intersects with the Janseva mission. The inauguration of the Community and Human Resources Development Center was more than a ribbon-cutting—it was a reaffirmation of faith, a deep bow to the past, and a courageous step into the future.