“I Am Alive Today Because of You”: Mumbai Family Service Center Marks 50 Years of Accompaniment

“If I am alive today, it is only because of you.”

Those words, recalled by Fr. Cajetan Menezes, former director of Snehalaya Family Service Centre of the Archdiocese of Bombay, captured the human impact of the center’s 50-year ministry as it celebrated its Golden Jubilee on August 8.

Fr. Menezes recalled a young pregnant woman who discovered that her husband was having an affair and, overwhelmed by despair, left home intending to end her life. On her way, someone told her about Snehalaya and encouraged her to seek help. She eventually met Fr. Menezes, who accompanied her through the crisis.

Years later, when they met again, she told him: “If I am alive today, it is only because of you.”

Her testimony highlighted the mission behind five decades of Snehalaya’s work: offering families, couples and individuals a place where they can be heard, accompanied and helped to rediscover hope.

Established on August 8, 1976, Snehalaya emerged in response to growing concerns affecting families in Mumbai, including the need for professional counseling and pastoral accompaniment. Inspired by the Second Vatican Council and Pope Paul VI’s Humanae Vitae, the center gradually developed ministries in marriage preparation, family counseling, natural family planning, psychological support and formation.

During the jubilee celebration, Fr. Ashwin Castellino, the current director, recalled the contributions of successive directors who helped shape the center’s ministry. Over the years, Snehalaya expanded its services and strengthened its presence through parish-based family initiatives.

A video message from founding director Fr. Dawson Ambosta recalled the discernment of the Archdiocese of Bombay to respond to couples and individuals facing family crises and needing professional and holistic pastoral support.

The jubilee celebration also looked toward the future. Under the theme “Listening with Heart, Accompanying with Love, Walking Together in Faith,” Snehalaya presented new initiatives focused on longer-term accompaniment of married couples.

Its plans include training 100 mentor couples, accompanying 500 newly married couples and providing dedicated support to 100 interfaith couples. The center also plans to develop mentor-couple networks across the archdiocese and publish an Interfaith Marriage Companion Handbook to assist couples and those accompanying them.

Addressing the gathering, Archbishop John Rodrigues of Bombay described the 50th anniversary as a celebration of something “pure” and “precious”, the love between husband and wife.

“Gold is a symbol of something that's pure... something that's very precious,” he said. “And I think it's appropriate that we're celebrating this golden jubilee of something that is so precious: the love between husband and wife, something that's pure and invites us to experience the divine, God's pure love for us.”

The Archbishop acknowledged the changing challenges facing families and the Church, including new social realities, technology, artificial intelligence and urban loneliness. He urged the Church to listen especially to younger generations and remain open to learning from them.

Reflecting on Snehalaya’s origins during a period of national crisis, Archbishop Rodrigues expressed hope that the present challenges could likewise lead to new pastoral possibilities.

“At that moment, something beautiful came forward,” he said. “We trust in the Lord that something beautiful will come out as we go through this.”

As Snehalaya begins its next chapter, Fr. Ashwin’s vision shifts the emphasis from marriage preparation as a one-time program to marriage accompaniment as a continuing journey, supporting couples through the joys and challenges of family life.

Concluding his message, Archbishop Rodrigues encouraged Snehalaya to continue its mission: “Blow the horn, sound the trumpet, sing and shout, and thank the Lord for all that He has done, and may this light continue to shine.”