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"Be what you are, Be at its best!"      - St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales Parish, Shantinagar, is the first MSFS centre in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.  It was established to catering to the spiritual and educational needs of people.  Within few years of its coming into existence, it has grown into a full established parish contributing substantially in the field of education too.  The Parish Priest, Fr. A. Francis Stephen, Principal, Fr. Jose Marie Thekkekutte, and the Assistant Parish Priest, Fr. Prabhat Ray, continue the legacy of predecessors and work for the overall growth of the local community through certain apostolic groups like B.C.C., Vincent de Paul Group, Legion of Mary, Mahila Mandal, and Youth Group.  The youth regularly organize Praise and Worship for the entire parish with the theme: Let Jesus Touch.  The ministry of formal education strives in forming young minds with vision for a better world through value based and quality education. 

(Fr. Prabhat C. Ray msfs)

(Fr. Devupally Jaya Prakash msfs)

But when the violent cyclones greatly damaged the chapel and the town was beset with plague taking a considerable toll of lives of the ordinary people in the consequent years, the venerable Bishop, a devotee of Mary, made a Vow to erect a statue of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart to obtain protection from the horrors of cyclone in the future. Accordingly, in 1877 the new chapel was blessed with the Statue of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart placed over the altar.  The annual feast of the Hill Chapel is celebrated with great pomp and splendour on December 8 preceded by the preparatory Novena starting on November 29.  The faithful and clergy of all parishes are invited to animate the novena prayers that are assigned to them in the schedule.  Undoubtedly, the shrine is rightly becoming the hub of spiritual activities.  There are prayer groups attached to this shrine.  In addition to the regular spiritual activities the shrine's 'spiritual animation team' is also conducting the healing and counselling services and the fasting and prayer sessions.  The Chain Rosary is turning out to be a successful movement involving and inspiriting innumerable Catholics. 

(Fr. Arul Francis msfs)