The annual Don Bosco Communication [BOSCOM] South Asia Executive Body Meeting took place via Google Meet on 17 and 18 July 2020. Convened by BOSCOM South Asia Delegate Father Ernest Rosario, the participants from the 11 provinces of South Asia were privileged to be accompanied throughout by the General Councillor for Social Communications Father Gildásio Mendez dos Santos. The executive body discussed, deliberated and debated the post-pandemic way forward on the theme, 'How Can We Creatively Accompany Young People in the Virtual World'. . Read More »

Mumbai Salesians' Dominic Savio Andheri-Mumbai Alumni [Past Pupils], scored a century [100 days] of relentless COVID-19 Food Relief, reaching out to 01 million at 65 locations in Mumbai, as part of the 'Feed My Mumbai' campaign. With the intention to ensure that no one sleeps hungry, freshly cooked nutritious meals to the disadvantaged needy were distributed by these past-pupils, volunteers and Salesians, stepping out of their homes bravely for a noble cause. The significant milestone was reached on 12 July 2020, by 300 PPDS (Past Pupils of St Dominic Savio)Corona Warriors.. Read More »

India has 220,114 active cases of COVID-19 and 17400 deaths as of 01 July 2020 (Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI). News flashes and ambulance sirens cause stress levels to rise. Few states in the country continue to impose lockdowns to control the escalating cases of infection, while most others have lifted restrictions. Though people can now come out into public and are free to move around, things are no longer the same. Livelihoods have vanished for a huge population of daily wagers across the country, affecting their very survival. For most middle-class people, incomes have been affected. Regular commodities are more expensive and petrol prices soaring. In the midst of this very volatile situation, the Don Bosco Network through its 11 Don Bosco planning and development partners (PDOs) across various states, geographies, cultures and economies, is keeping its ear to the ground, listening carefully to conversations for indications coming from the people. To be effectively helpful in the current context, we require to understand and formulate responses to various situations. The Don Bosco Network across India is doing just that.. Read More »

The General Chapter 28 has profoundly renewed the General Council of the Salesian Congregation. For this reason, today we begin, with Father Biju Michael, Regional Councilor for South Asia, a series of interviews designed to get to know the new Councilors who assist the Rector Major in the animation and government of the Congregation a little better.. Read More »

Father Wyman Gonsalves of the Salesian Province of Bombay [INB] was installed as Rector and Novice Master on 16 June 2020, at Salesian Training Institute [STI] in Nashik. MumbaiSalesians' Vice-Provincial Father Ashley Miranda presided at the installation ceremony.. Read More »

Indian Salesian Father Thommai Antonyrajan of the Salesian Province of Tiruchy [INT] who was working in the Province of Sri Lanka [LKC], met a tragic end at sea, and was confirmed dead at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, 14 June 2020. He was aged 56. Father Thommai was a former Vice-Provincial of the Salesian Province of Tiruchy from 2005-2008.. Read More »

The academic year of the post-novitiate - Salesian Institute of Philosophy, Jnanodaya - at 'The Retreat' Yercaud, in Salem District of Tamil Nadu, began on 04 June 2020. . Read More »

Indian Salesian Father Stephen Kuncherakatt died in Jerusalem on the night of 02 June 2020. He had been taken to the Italian hospital in Haifa for a check-up; the Salesians who accompanied him were unable to stay with him because of the emergency health rules and Father Kuncherakatt died in silence, accompanied by the sisters of the hospital. Agenzia iNfo Salesiana [ANS], the communication agency of the Salesians of Don Bosco, headquartered in Rome, published an article dated 08 June 2020, reproduced below. . Read More »

A 30-minute film ''Zatti, our Brother'' on the Salesian lay coadjutor nurse Blessed Artemide Zatti [1880-1951], is to be released on Thursday 11 June at 20:00 hrs, Argentine time, on the YouTube channel of the Argentine Salesian Bulletin. The original language is Spanish, with English, Italian, Portuguese, Polish and French subtitles. This is the 1st Salesian cinematographic narrative work produced in Argentina, by the Argentinian Salesian Bulletin with the support of the 02 Salesian Provinces in Argentina, the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid-Spain, and the Salesians of Don Bosco worldwide.. Read More »

Pope Francis on 06 June accepted the resignation of Salesian Bishop Jerome Dhas Varuvel of Kuzhithurai Diocese in Tamil Nadu. A press release issued by the Vatican noted, ''The Holy Father Pope Francis has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the Diocese of Kuzhithurai, India, presented by Bishop Jerome Dhas Varuvel.'' A Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) press release stated,''the Holy Father has appointed Archbishop Antony Pappusamy of Madurai as Apostolic Administrator of Kuzhithurai.'' Bishop Varuvel had submitted his resignation due to reasons of heath, prior to the mandatory retirement age. . Read More »