Announcing the good news to the confreres and members of the Salesian Family of Mumbai Province, the outgoing Provincial, Fr. Savio Silveira, congratulated Fr. Ashley and assured him of prayers and support.

Fr. Ashley Miranda was born on May 01, 1965, in Udupi, Karnataka. He did his schooling at Don Bosco, Borivali, Mumbai, where he felt inspired to become a Salesian. Fr. Ashley made his first religious profession as a Salesian on May 24, 1983, in Nashik and was ordained a priest on December 18, 1993, at the Shrine of Don Bosco's Madonna in Matunga, Mumbai. After his ordination, he served as a professor at the Divyadaan Salesian Institute of Philosophy for two years (1994-1996). He then proceeded to the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS), Rome (1996-1999), where he obtained a doctorate in philosophy. After returning to the province, he spent the next twenty years as a professor and formator in Nashik, where he was highly appreciated for his teaching skills and his good rapport with the young Salesians. Over the past two decades, he has held various portfolios in the formation communities in Nashik, including rector and principal at Divyadaan. During those years, he also served as a Provincial Councilor and Formation Delegate (2008-2014). In May 2019, he was appointed as novice master at the Salesian Training Institute, Nashik; however, just a few months later, in July 2019, he was appointed as Vice Provincial, a role he has held for the past six years (2019-2025). Recently, Fr Ashley participated in General Chapter 29 as the province delegate.

Fr Ashley is known to be a person of many 'A' qualities – affable, amicable, approachable, altruistic, and appreciative. His kindhearted demeanour and warm personality have endeared him to confreres, collaborators, and youngsters with whom he has worked. Furthermore, being a Salesian with a very positive outlook and a person of immense patience, he has been a caring and supportive guide to many young confreres. Fr. Ashley also has an adventurous streak – he enjoys accompanying youngsters on picnics, hikes and cycling excursions. But beyond his affectionate and fun-loving character, Fr. Ashley has always been admired for his deep spiritual life, which has made him a highly sought-after retreat preacher and spiritual director. The many qualities of heart, mind, and spirit that God has graced him with make Fr. Ashley a truly outstanding Salesian.

While Fr. Ashley has predominantly served in the formation sector, he also has a keen interest in working for the poor, particularly in rural areas. In the formation sector, besides being a professor and formator for over twenty years, he has been a Provincial Formation Delegate twice (2008-2014 and 2019-2025). As Formation Delegate, he has closely followed up the confreres in all stages of initial formation, from the pre-novitiate to the quinquennium stage. While attending to his responsibilities in the formation field, he has regularly been involved in mission work, either through the oratories in slum areas in Nashik or the rural outreach work in Walvanda. This excellent blend of formation and mission has enabled Fr Ashley to gain an in-depth experience of Salesian life.

Fr. Ashley will be installed as the twelfth provincial of the Salesian Province of St. Francis Xavier, Bombay, on September 8, 2025, the feast of the Nativity of Our Blessed Mother, at the Shrine of Don Bosco's Madonna, Matunga, Mumbai.

Courtesy: Fr Savio Silveira, Provincial of Mumbai