A Tribute to Fr Arulvalan SDB: A Prophet who Touched the Untouchables

15 April 2025

Justice and Human Rights, Marginalized, Visionaries,

We offer our tribute to Fr Arulvalan, a Salesian priest whose unwavering commitment to the most oppressed and neglected sections of society, especially the Thurumbar (Puthirai Vannar) community of Tamil Nadu, died at 54. His funeral was held on April 9 at Saint Dominic Savio Church in Tirupattur, Tamil Nadu. His tireless work with the Thurumbar Liberation Movement (TLM) reveals not only a deep conviction in the Gospel of justice but also a courageous defiance against the entrenched caste hierarchy that continues to haunt Indian society.

- Fr.Francis Bosco SDB

The ‘Centurion’ of Priest Psychologists: Fr. Peter Lourdes at 100

19 March 2025

Anniversary, Counselling, Psychology, Visionaries,

Fr. Peter Vincent Lourdes, a pioneering Salesian priest and one of India’s first priest psychologists, celebrated his 100th birthday at Nitika Don Bosco, Kolkata, marking a century of remarkable service in counselling, spiritual direction, and education. The centenarian priest, who made his religious profession on December 6, 1944, and was ordained on December 5, 1954, continues to inspire with his resilience. He beat COVID-19 at 94 and hoisted the Tricolour on Independence Day 2020 before leaving Fortis Hospital.

- Fr Arvind SDB

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Missionary Formation

Corso Germoglio, or Beginners Course, is a five-week preparatory course for missionaries in Italy. It is the final stage of a process of vocational and missionary discernment for Salesians. The course is for missionaries "ad gentes, ad exteros and ad vitam".

The Missionary Expedition is the culmination of the Corso Germoglio. During the expedition, Salesians receive the missionary cross, along with members of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and lay volunteers from the Community of the Mission of Don Bosco.