A Joyous Celebration of Archbishop John Rodrigues’ Birthday

By Ms Jancy Dharamraj

“We love because he first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19

On the joyful occasion of the birthday of Most Rev. John Rodrigues, Archbishop of Bombay, on 21st August 2026, representatives from Don Bosco High School, Matunga, participated in a special Eucharistic celebration held at the Holy Name Cathedral, Colaba.

The school was represented by Rev. Fr. Godfrey, Rector of Don Bosco High School, Matunga, Ms Jancy Dharamraj, and the students Joshua Dennis, Joshua Britto, and Andrew Philip. The celebration brought together numerous priests, representatives from various schools, teachers, staff members, and students from across the Archdiocese.

The Holy Eucharist was solemnly celebrated with several priests from different parishes as concelebrants. A special moment of pride for Don Bosco High School was when Fr. Godfrey proclaimed the Gospel of the day during the Mass.

In his homily, Archbishop John Rodrigues reflected beautifully on the Gospel message and the two great commandments of love. He explained that the vertical line of the Cross represents our love for God, while the horizontal line represents our love for one another. Together, these two dimensions sum up the essence of Christian life: to love God wholeheartedly and to love our neighbour as ourselves.

The Archbishop further reminded everyone that God has created each person beautifully and uniquely. He encouraged the congregation not merely to place their own plans before God, but instead to constantly ask, “Lord, what is Your plan for me?” He stressed the importance of trusting God's purpose for our lives rather than attempting to run our own race alone.

Drawing inspiration from the Cathedral, where some construction and restoration work was still in progress, the Archbishop shared a meaningful reflection. Although certain parts of the church and its original beauty were temporarily covered due to the ongoing work, the church continued to reveal its beauty gradually. Similarly, each one of us is a work in progress. God is constantly shaping, strengthening, and transforming us according to His beautiful plan. This reflection served as a powerful reminder to trust God's timing and allow Him to complete the good work He has begun in each of us.

Following the Holy Mass, a joyful birthday cake-cutting ceremony was held. The Cathedral was filled with students, teachers, staff members, priests, and representatives from various schools, creating a wonderful atmosphere of celebration and fellowship.

Archbishop John Rodrigues also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to everyone present. He personally thanked the representatives from each school, the rectors, principals, priests, teachers, staff members, students, and all those who had gathered to celebrate the occasion with him. His words of appreciation and personal warmth made everyone feel welcomed and valued, further adding to the joy and spirit of togetherness that marked the celebration.

After the cake-cutting ceremony, representatives from each school proceeded in an orderly queue to personally greet Archbishop John Rodrigues and present their tokens of love and appreciation, including birthday cards, bouquets, and other gifts. Don Bosco High School, Matunga, too, had the opportunity to convey its heartfelt birthday wishes and gratitude to the Archbishop.

The celebration concluded with refreshments being served to the students and staff. It was a joyful and memorable occasion, providing everyone with an opportunity to come together as one Church family, celebrate the Archbishop's birthday, and reflect on his inspiring message of love, trust, and surrender to God's beautiful plan for our lives.

Archbishop John Rodrigues personally thanked each school for joining him in celebrating his birthday and expressed his heartfelt gratitude for their love, wishes, and presence.