Welcoming 40 participants from various Salesian Provinces across South Asia, the seminar opened with a cordial greeting by Fr Sebastian Kudackat, SDB, Rector of the Provincial House. Among the key dignitaries present were the FMA Provincials of Chennai and Mumbai, along with Salesian historians Fr Stanislaw Zimniak, SDB (ACSSA Secretary), and Fr Thomas Anchukandam, SDB (Director, Salesian Institute of History [ISS], Rome).

Fr Jose Koyickal, SDB, Provincial of Bangalore, and Sr Lucy Rose Ozhukayil, FMA, Provincial of the FMA Bangalore Province, officially inaugurated the event. Thought-provoking keynote messages were shared by Fr Anchukandam and Fr Zimniak, setting the tone for the three-day seminar. These were further enriched by video and audio messages from global Salesian leaders, including Rector Major Fr. Fabio Attard, Mother General Sr. Chiara Cazzuola, South Asia Regional Councillor Fr. Biju Pulianmackal, and ACSSA President Sr. Maria Maul, FMA.

Centred on the theme “Salesian Missions in the World,” with a particular focus on “Evangelization Efforts in South Asia,” the seminar featured a series of dynamic 35-minute scholarly presentations delivered by 20 SDB and FMA members. Papers circulated in advance encouraged deep engagement and critical reflection. The use of multimedia presentations and the inclusion of remote participants via Google Meet highlighted the hybrid and inclusive nature of the seminar.

Facilitated by experienced moderators, the sessions fostered discussion and documentation of the historical, cultural, and spiritual dimensions of Salesian missionary work across South Asia. More than a retrospective, the seminar aimed to illuminate the rich legacy of Salesian evangelization while laying the groundwork for future initiatives in the global Salesian mission.