The South Asian Formation Commission (SAFC), met for its first annual meeting of the academic year 2011-2012 at the Provincial house of Panjim Province, Odxel. Animated by Fr Francesco Cereda, General Councillor for Formation, Fr Chrys Saldanha from the department of Formation, Rome, and Fr Loddy Pires, the national coordinator of SAFC, the four day meeting commenced on September 10, 2012. Among the many concerns and matters related to formation, the gathering will focus on specifics of intellectual formation, the Salesian Brother, formation with the laity, and an assessment of the six-year plan for the region. . Read More »

A fitting and final farewell was given to Fr Abraham Panampara at Don Bosco Karunapuram, Warangal on June 13. The Requiem Mass was presided over by His Grace Most Rev. Thumma Bala the Archbishop of Hyderabad and Fr Raminedi Balaraju, the Hyderabad Salesian Provincial. The 'Panampara Effect' was tangibly felt as numerous salesians, priests, religious, relatives and faithful paid their final respects, prayed and bid him farewell.. Read More »

Fr Panampara Abraham (fondly called P.E.), aged 83 - the last surviving of the first batch of pioneers who initiated the Salesian charism in Andhra - died in an accident enroute to the street children work at Vimukti, Vijayawada. The incident occured at 2pm on June 11, 2012. The funeral of this veteran Salesian is scheduled for June 13, 2012 at Don Bosco Philosophate, Karunapuram at 3.30 pm. . Read More »

The Extraordinary Visitation of the Salesian Province of Hyderabad commenced on March 6, 2012 at the Provincial House, Hyderabad with a solemn Eucharist in the Shrine of Don Bosco. Fr Maria Arokiam Kanaga, the Regional Councillor of the South Asia Region, met the 45 Rectors and In-charges of the Province for a conference as part of the inauguration. The previous Extraordinary Visitation was in 2005 by Fr Joaquim D'Souza, the then regional superior.. Read More »

The third retreat of the academic year of the Salesian Province of Hyderabad was scheduled and held in the second week of January 2012 (9th to 14th) at the Provincial house, Hyderabad. For the 28 participants this was a beautiful opportunity to take stock of the past and plan for the spiritual journey ahead. The retreat was preached by Fr Joe Prabu, currently the Joint-Secretary of the YaR Forum and member of the SPCSA national body.. Read More »

The annual debate at St John's Regional Seminary, Kondadaba (the Philosophate of the Andhra Pradesh Bishop's Conference) was held on December 14, 2011. The theme was 'Lokpal bill is the solution to Corruption in India'. Somehow, as in the last four years, the team 'against the motion' won the debate with just 10 points more than their worthy opponents (the total being 277). Fr Joseph Anithottam the Parish Priest of Kondadaba, moderated the debate. Srs Prasanna and Abilasha, Fr C. Thomas, the present spiritual director and Fr Devadas, our former spiritual director were the evaluators for the debate. Fr Wilson, the Principal, was the facilitator. . Read More »

Fr. Thathireddy Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy, Vice Provincial of the Salesian Province of Hyderabad, successfully defended his doctoral thesis: ''A PHILOSOPHY OF COMMUNICATION IN THE THOUGHT OF LUDWIG WITTGENSTEIN,'' at Universit� Pontificia Salesiana (UPS) on December 13, 2011. He has analysed two principal works: Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus and Philosophical Investigations to derive a philosophy of communication.. Read More »

The Second All A.P. Don Bosco General Knowledge Quiz contest was held at Don Bosco Schoo, Guntupalli, Vijayawada, on December 05, 2011.. Read More »

The Salesian and boys' residence at Don Bosco Mission, Peddaboddepalli (Narsipatnam) was blessed and inaugurated in the presence of Most Rev. Karnam Joji Babu (Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam), Fr Raminedi Balaraju (Provincial), members of the Salesian Family and nearly 400 guests on December 3, 2011. The celebrations commenced with the blessing of the new building, followed by the Holy Mass, and concluded with a colourful cultural programme and meal for the special invitees. The elaborate and intense preparations by Fr Madanu Rayappa and the confreres of the place were appreciated by all.. Read More »

The Andhra Pradesh Bishop's Conference's Regional Seminary, St John's at Kondadaba (35 kms from the port city of Visakhapatnam) celebrated its 24th annual Seminary Day on November 22, 2011. The chief guest of the day was Most Rev. A. Innaiah (Bishop of Srikakulam). The highlights of the day were the Holy Mass in the morning, the 3-act English play on the Kingdom of God in the evening, the presence of many well wishers and friends of the Seminary and the planting of the commemorative Jubilee plant on the occasion of the commencement of the Jubilee year of the Seminary. . Read More »