NEWS
The Sacred Heart Shrine at Mawlai witnessed a profound outpouring of faith and devotion as nearly 10,000 pilgrims converged for the Annual Pilgrimage in Honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Hosted by Sacred Heart Theological College, the much-anticipated event drew faithful not only from the Archdiocese of Shillong but also from neighbouring dioceses of Nongstoin and Jowai.
A fresh take on one of the Church’s youngest saints was unveiled at the CCBI Centre in Goa, as Cardinal Filipe Neri released Dominic Savio: A Faith Influencer for All Time, a new book by Salesian author and educator Fr Dr Gilbert Choondal of the Bangalore Province. The 72-page publication, priced at just ₹40 and published by Don Bosco Publications, Vennala, Kochi, presents the life of Dominic Savio in a voice that speaks directly to today’s youth.
Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Gedilam, in collaboration with Deepagam, organized a two-day pilgrimage for altar servers from May 13 to 14. A total of thirty-three altar servers from three parishes, Tagore Nagar (Puducherry), Maranodai, and Thennangudi, participated. Salesian priests and catechists guided them.
A vibrant confluence of culture, catechesis, and youth empowerment marked the recently concluded ten-day “Leadership Training Camp and Youth Catechesis through Folk Art” held from May 21 to May 31, 2025, at Sacred Heart College (SHC), Tirupattur. Jointly organized by the Salesian Province of Chennai (INM), the Youth Ministry Delegation, Deepagam (Don Bosco Catechetical Centre), and SHC, the camp brought together 65 youth and children from seven rural parishes in Vellore and Tirupattur regions, including participants from Chennai and FSAG sisters of Shalom Province, Tindivanam.
Seven hundred young participants across Northeast India concluded their five-day Holy Week retreat with a symbolic Easter morning river pilgrimage on the Brahmaputra river, marking the 18th edition of Youth Pasch.
In Chofu, at Don Bosco Chapel in Tokyo, Japan, there stands a crucifix like no other. There is no wooden beam, no classic symbol of the Cross. Instead, there is a body—Christ’s body—fashioned from jagged sheets of broken metal. It hangs not from a cross but suspended against cold stone, his body sculpted from shattered metal, fragments welded into form.
The never like before Youth Pasch, a spiritually enriching event jointly organized by the Salesian Provinces of Chennai and Trichy, transformed Ennore's Don Bosco Youth Animation Centre into a vibrant hub of faith and reflection from April 10th to April 12th, 2025. With 55 enthusiastic young participants (40 boys and 15 girls), the program immersed them into the profound spiritual journey of the Paschal Triduum. Every day featured live historical landscapes of St.Thomas, the Apostle, to immerse them into the spirit of missionary discipleship.
The annual feast of the Holy Rosary was observed at the 425-year-old Bandel Shrine, Kolkata, built in 1599 by the Portuguese, on November 9 and 10. The shrine holds the miraculous statue of Our Lady of Happy Voyage, the faith focus for the faithful and pilgrims.
The Bible Camp for Children 2024, themed Hello Jesus, concluded successfully at Mary Immaculate Parish, Chingmeirong, Manipur, after a four-day event held from October 10 to 13. The camp attracted 517 students and 55 volunteers across the parish and surrounding areas, offering a unique blend of spiritual learning and interactive activities. The sessions covered topics such as the significance of the Bible in modern times, the sacredness of Scripture, the Catholic Church’s teachings, and the universal call to sainthood.
Seven full time lay evangelists belonging to the Karbi tribe of Assam in the Province of Guwahati took time off from their busy schedule in carrying out family apostolate toured St Thomas Mount, Our Lady of Vellankani, the Little Mount and many other holy places in Chennai for eight days.
The Evangelization and Catechetical Centre of the Salesian Province of Chennai, Deepagam, organized 'Let’s Celebrate Faith' on October 29 at Don Bosco, Katpadi, under the guidance and leadership of Father Jesudoss, the Director of Deepagam. More than 2000 children, youth, adults, Salesians and the Salesian Co-operators attended the event.
The Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) released the Directory for Lay Catechists during the 14th National Catechetical Conference at Ashirbhavan, Kochi, Kerala, on September 12. The Directory was released by Most Rev Joseph Kalathiparambil SDB, Chairman of CCBI Commission for Catechetics, Most Rev George Palliparampil, the Bishop of Miao, in the presence of Most Rev Aplinar Senapati CM, Bishop of Raygada and Rev Dr. Stephen Alathara Deputy Secretary General of CCBI.
The catechists’ training programme by SPCSA (Salesian Provincial Conference of South Asia) for the Salesian Family of Southern provinces of South Asia was held at Don Bosco Provincial House, Bangalore, from May 7 to 11, 2023. Twenty participants from various Salesian family groups of South India (SDB, FMA, SMA, MSMHC, ASC, VDB and Catechists from Salesian Parishes) participated.
The Training of the Trainers was organized by the SPCSA Salesian Family at Don Bosco Provincial House Mathias Institute Mawlai, Shillong, from April 24-28, 2023, on the theme “Catechesis of a Synodal Church: A paradigm shifts towards solidarity and communion.”