Bombay Archdiocese’s Snehalaya Receives Papal Blessing for 50 Years of Family Ministry

Snehalaya Family Service Centre of the Archdiocese of Bombay received a Papal Blessing marking its 50th anniversary during the National Symposium 2026, which examined the role of families in an increasingly technology-driven world.

Archbishop John Rodrigues of Bombay presented the blessing to Fr. Ashwin Castellino, director of Snehalaya, during the Eucharistic celebration on October 16 at St. Pius X College in Goregaon East, Mumbai. The Mass was associated with the national symposium, themed “The Family: Humanity’s Greatest Hope in a World of AI.”

The recognition coincides with the Golden Jubilee of Snehalaya, the archdiocese’s Family Commission, which has accompanied couples and families since 1976 through marriage preparation, counseling and pastoral support.

Fr. Castellino received the blessing on behalf of the center’s directors, counselors, staff members, volunteers, benefactors and the families who have sought its assistance over five decades.

“May this blessing inspire us to ensure that no couple and no family journeys alone,” the felicitation message said.

Fr. Castellino said receiving the Papal Blessing during the national symposium gave the jubilee particular significance as the Church considered the future of family life amid advances in artificial intelligence.

The blessing, he said, encouraged Snehalaya to renew its commitment to accompanying couples, strengthening relationships and helping families become homes of faith and hope.

He described the presentation by Archbishop Rodrigues as an expression of communion with the Holy Father and belonging to the Archdiocese of Bombay.

Snehalaya’s work over the past 50 years has focused on helping couples prepare for marriage, supporting families through difficulties and fostering relationships grounded in faith, love and mutual understanding.

The center’s jubilee also provided an opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of those who have sustained its mission through counseling, service and financial support.

The symposium connected the Church’s pastoral responsibility toward families with the concept of Magnifica Humanitas and the safeguarding of human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence.

Fr. Castellino emphasized that technological advances must not distract the Church from the individual needs of people, including spouses seeking understanding, young people looking for direction, children needing security and older people longing for companionship.

He said the Papal Blessing strengthened Snehalaya’s resolve to translate the symposium’s discussions into practical service to families.

The National Symposium 2026 brought family life into a wider conversation about technology and human relationships. For Snehalaya, the recognition comes as it enters its sixth decade, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring that couples and families receive support through changing social circumstances.

The Golden Jubilee marks five decades of the center’s contribution to family ministry in Mumbai, India's financial capital, where the Archdiocese of Bombay serves a diverse Catholic community.

Snehalaya’s anniversary and the Papal Blessing highlight the Church’s continuing emphasis on accompanying families as a central part of its pastoral mission, particularly as digital technologies reshape communication, relationships and everyday life.