Fr Saturnino Almeida with the Sakaal Sanman 2025 award.
PANAJI
Fr Saturnino Almeida, a member of the Society of Pilar, was felicitated with the prestigious Sakaal Sanman 2025 award for his exceptional and dedicated service in the field of education at an awards ceremony in Bandra, Mumbai.
The honour was bestowed upon him by Maharashtra’s Information and Broadcasting Minister, Ashish Shelar, in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis.
The Sakaal Sanman 2025 awards, instituted by Sakaal, a Marathi-language daily newspaper, recognised Fr Almeida’s remarkable journey, from being a key member of the Agnel Ashram community, which established Fr Agnel School in Vashi in 1982, to developing a premier educational complex.
In 1968, Fr Almeida went 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 went 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.
The Agnel Educational Complex at Vashi is part of the Agnel Region of the Society of Pilar 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.
The Centre for Innovation and Business Acceleration (CIBA), a start-up hub, occupies a place of pride in the complex. The Agnel Sports Complex, the astro turfs, and the floodlit basketball courts have nurtured an impressive number of national and international players.
Over the past 43 years, Fr Almeida 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, Fr Almeida has played his role to perfection as an inspirational leader. Today, he is one of the Councillors to the Superior General of the Society of Pilar.
For the past 30 years, Fr Almeida has also been the President of the Navi Mumbai Area Schools Association and has undertaken pathbreaking initiatives and collaborative ventures, bringing all schools of Navi Mumbai onto one platform.
He also served as the Vice President of the Maharashtra Basketball Association. The saga of his contributions continues even today.
