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Salesian Youth Leaders Meet in Kolkata for Formation Programme

10 September 2026

News reported by: Fr Arvind Khalkho

The Salesian Youth Movement (SYM), Kolkata Province, held a three-day Leaders and Animators Formation (LAF) Programme from September 5 to 7 at Don Bosco Nitika, bringing together youth leaders and animators from the Salesian Provinces of Kolkata, Delhi and Hyderabad.

The programme opened with Holy Mass presided over by Fr Sunil Kerketta SDB, Provincial of Kolkata, following morning prayer. Fr Alfred Paul SDB, Youth Delegate of Kolkata, welcomed the participants with the traditional “Uttorio.”

The first day focused on Salesian youth leadership and spirituality. Fr Patrick Lepcha SDB, South Asia Delegate for Youth Ministry, led a session on the Salesian Youth Movement and spirituality, followed by an exchange of best practices among youth groups from the three provinces. Fr Saroj Mullick SDB and Mr Ayush Raj Mathew conducted sessions on faith formation for young people and media skills for leadership, respectively. The day concluded with a reflection on “Hearing the Voice of God” by Fr Tushar Gomes SDB and a cultural evening that highlighted the participating provinces’ traditions.

The second day featured a Hindi Holy Mass presided over by Fr Deepak Kindo SDB, Youth Director of Delhi Province. Formation sessions addressed youth as agents of change, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and the vocational dimension of young people. Adoration and Confession offered participants spiritual renewal.

An evaluation and way-forward session, facilitated online by Fr Alfred Paul, identified concrete lines of action for youth groups. The valedictory function distributed certificates and souvenirs to youth leaders, while presenting special centenary mementoes to youth animators and directors of the three provinces. A family get-together followed, marking the programme’s closing moments and shared fellowship.

The final day highlighted Kolkata’s spiritual and cultural heritage. Participants celebrated Holy Mass at St Mother Teresa’s Tomb, had breakfast at Mother House and visited the Victoria Memorial, St Paul’s Cathedral and Auxilium Parish Church. The programme concluded with a visit to New Market, leaving participants with memories of fellowship, formation and the cultural heritage of the “City of Joy.”