Known for his exceptional and dedicated service in the field of education for our decades in Mumbai Metropolitan Regions including Navi Mumbai,  Rev Fr. Saturnino Almeida SFX* was felicitated with a prestigious Sakaal Sanman 2025 award early this week during a glittering awards ceremony held at Bandra, Mumbai. The award was bestowed by Maharashtra’s Cabinet Minister of Information Technology & Cultural affairs Ashish Shelar in the presence of the Honourable Chief Minister , Devendra Fadnavis.

The Educational award among awards instituted by Sakaal, a Marathi-language daily newspaper by Sakal Media Group, headquartered in Pune early this week recognized Fr. Almeida's remarkable journey, from being a key member of the Agnel Ashram team that established Fr Agnel School in Vashi in 1982, to developing a premier Educational Complex.

As may be recalled in the year 1968 Fr. Almeida came to Mumbai and made a foray into the field of Education and Community service.  In 1982 when Fr. Agnel Multipurpose School was established in Vashi, by Fr C Rodrigues, Fr. Almeida came to Vashi, Navi Mumbai with his mentor Fr. Orlando Rodrigues.  Thereafter it has been a fascinating narrative of steady growth and development from one school to an entire educational complex.  

Today the Vashi based Agnel Educational Complex comes under the Agnels Region of Society of Pillar. and includes the school, Balbhavan, hostels for students, an ITI, a Diploma College, an Engineering College, a Management Institute, a Law College and a residential wing. CIBA- the Centre for Innovation and Business Acceleration a start up hub occupies the pride of place in the complex. The Agnel Sports Complex which includes the first of its kind a multipurpose Astro Turf and the floodlit basketball courts have nurtured an impressive number of national and international players.

Fr. Almeida over the past 43 years has been a pillar of strength and an iconic mentor.  From the Principal of the school to the Managing Director of the Agnel Education Complex and the Regional Head of the Agnel Region,he has played his role to perfection as an inspirational leader.  Today he is the Counselor for the Superior General of the Society of Pillar.

Whether it was collaborating with founder of Parisar Asha Ms Gloria DSouza in 1988 to make learning for students creative and joyful or practising Inclusion in school since the past three decades, Father Almeida has always fostered innovation and growth.

For the past 30 years Fr. Almedia has also been the President of Navi Mumbai Area Schools Association and has undertaken path breaking initiatives and collaborative ventures bringing all schools of Navi Mumbai on one platform.

Also for a great many years Fr. Almeida was the Vice President of the Maharashtra Basketball Association.

The saga of his contributions continues even today.

The Society of the Missionaries of St. Francis Xavier, Pilar (Latin: Societas Missionariorum Sancti Francisci Xaverii), abbreviated SFX and commonly referred to as the Society of Pilar or the Pilar Fathers is a Roman Catholic society of apostolic life of Pontifical Right for men (priests and brothers).