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

The Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, Father �ngel Fern�ndez Artime,released an official statement on 05 June 2020, naming the new Delegates of the Rector Major for the groups that are spiritually mentored by the Sons of Don Bosco. The newly appointed Delegates are: Father Joan Llu�s Play�, Delegate of the Rector Major for the Secretariat of the Salesian Family;Ecclesiastical Assistant of the VDB (Volunteers of Don Bosco) and CDB (Volunteers with Don Bosco) Bro. Duc (Dominic) Nam Nguyen, Vietnamese Salesian Brother, Delegate of the Rector Major for the Association of the Salesian Cooperators and the Delegate of the Rector Major for the Past Pupils of Don Bosco. Father Alejandro Guevara, Delegate of the Rector Major as Spiritual Animator of the Association of Mary Help of Christians [ADMA]. Father Pier Luigi Cameroni, Postulator General for the Causes of Saints, will also be part of the team of the Secretariat.. Read More

On 05 June 2020, 46th World Environment Day, Don Bosco Green Alliance, an international collective of young people from the Salesian Family institutions, who contribute to global environmental action, thought and policy, launched a new campaign 'Rethink, Reconnect, Renew'. This campaign will be run throughout the ongoing Laudato S�' Year. Father Savio Silveira-Convener Don Bosco Green Alliance addressed a letter on the launch of the new campaign to the Alliance Members. . Read More

The devastating COVID-19 gobal pandemic triggered off a humanitarian criss of unprecedented proportions across the globe. It was more severe in India, where people migrate in search of jobs and livelihood almsot on a daily basis. These were left stranded, distressed and desolate in the wake of the COVID-19. In this deplorable scenario, the Chennai Salesians [INM], through theier Province Planning and Development Office [PDO], conceived of a novel idea to sustain these vulnerable stranded. . Read More

Indian Salesian Father Stephen Kuncherakatt, aged 86, passed away at 22:30 hours on 02 June 2020 in Jerusalem. Ailing from and battling 'cancer' since quite some time, he was hospitalised, where he breathed his last. Father Kuncherakatt originally belonged to the Salesian Province of St. Thomas the Apostle Chennai [INM]. At the time of his demise, he was in residence at the Salesian Monastery-Ratisbonne in Jerusalem, of the Salesian Province of Ges� Adolescente [Adolescent Jesus] the Middle East [MOR].. Read More

As COVID-19 lockdown begins to ease, with Unlock 1.0, the Spirit reminds that God Still Loves the World and with the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of the Church, the sons of Don Bosco together with the entire Salesian family, alumni, cooperators, collaborators, and well-wishers can journey on being 'signs and bearers of God's love to the young. In order that this may be so, Indian Salesian Father Peter Gonsalves, Dean of the Faculty of Social Communication Sciences of the Salesian Pontifical University [UPS] Rome, and appointed by Pope Francis in 2017 as Consultant to the Vatican Secretariat for Communications, offers 02 of his musical albums: The Peter Gonsalves Collection and The Marian Collection, for 'free' on YouTube. . Read More

The Salesian Province of St. Francis Xavier Bombay [INB] mourns with great sadness the demise of Father Byron Anthony D'Silva, aged 77, on 27 May 2020 at 14:15hrs, at the Holy Spirit Hospital Andheri-Mumbai. He was a Salesian of Don Bosco for 56 years. The funeral service will be a private ceremony, due to the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions protocol. Born at Dramapur-Goa on 15 February 1943, Father D'Silva did his novitiate and made his 1st Religious Profession at Yercaud on 24 May 1964. He was ordained priest on 16 December 1972 at Panjim.. Read More

Father Chrysanthus Saldanha, fondly called 'Chrys' is currently based at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He commemorated the Golden Jubilee of his sacerdotal ordination on 17 May. He also celebrates the Diamond Jubilee of his religious profession this year. Father Saldanha has dedicated himself to Salesian Formation and has also served as MumbaiSalesians' Provincial of St. Francis Xavier Bombay [INB]. He also coordinated the launch of Project Africa.Father Saldanha has done many good works in his Salesian life. 50 years after his priestly ordination, here is an interview- testimony that can say a lot for and to all young Salesians. Reproduced here, is the Interview published by Agenzia Info Salesiana (ANS).. Read More

''The Three Red Diamonds of Kangleipak, The Ransom Paid,'' - with Kangleipak recalling the ancient name of Manipur - is the title of a video-documentary tribute by Indian Salesian Father Thomas Josekutty Madathiparambil, in memory of the 03 Salesians - Father Raphael Paliakara, Father Andreas Kindo, Cleric Shinu Joseph Valliparambil -killed in Imphal in 2001, protecting the young people present in the Salesian Novitiate at the time. Father Josekutty was one of those novices and remembers that incident very well, which opposed the generosity of sacrifice to the arrogance of violence.. Read More

The 17th Provincial of the Salesian Province of Kolkata [INC], Father Joseph Pauria, is to be installed at the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, Turin [Italy] on 17 May 2020 at 7 p.m. local time. . Read More

As India nears the end of COVID-19 lockdown 3.0, people are weary of different things. For the poor and the migrants, it is about survival - no jobs, incomes and even food in some places. Their immediate and sole concern is getting back home to a sense of emotional security. Hopefully, these will not be treated like cattle just because they are from a different state. From 25 March to 14 April, as the nation was thrown into the chaos of lockdown 1.0, it was the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as the Don Bosco Network, who leaped to the rescue of the poor and stranded across India.. Read More

The month of May dedicated to Mary Help of Christians is a month of prayer, rosary and novena to Mother Mary. The solemn feast of Mary Help Of Christians and the lead up to the feast day, is unfotunately to be celebrated within the confines of our homes, due to the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. However, interested devotees can participate online as the Novena to Mary Help of Christians, commented upon by the Rector Major Don Angel Fernandez Artime, is available in 06 languages, on the ANS [Agenzia Info Salesiana] YouTube Channel and FaceBook page. . Read More

The Rector Major Father Ángel Fernández Artime, with the consensus of the General Council, has appointed Father Maria Arokiam Kanaga as the Provincial of the ViceProvince Maria Sede della Sapienza of the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS). The General Council in its work session currently has also appointed Father Horacio Barbieri as the Provincial of the Blessed Artemide Zatti Province of Northern Argentina (ARN).. Read More

In times such as these, with the COVID-19 set upon us like the sword of Damocles, that generosity, compassion, empathy and feeling oneness with those less privileged, comes to the fore. it is the generous ones that will survive the onslaught of COVID-19. The Don Bosco Oratory at Provincial House, Matunga-Mumbai with the tagline 'Nurturing Lives 'Significantly' witnesses this in its young oratorians to the full. . Read More

The prevailing COVID-19 lockdown has affected millions across India. Many migrants are stranded without any source of income, hoping to reach home in their respective native states from their places of work. The expected general easing of the lockdown is intended to help these stranded interstate migrants travel back to their own homes. However, there have been many causalities in the process. Don Bosco Network India is trying to reach out to these most affected through its 11 Planning and Development Offices [PDOs] across the country. . Read More

The Mumbai Salesians at Dominic Savio Andheri with 300 Alumni [Past Pupils] have completed a 01 month 'Feed My Mumbai' outreach, creating a sustainable impact on communities affected by COVID-19 lockdown in Mumbai City. With the intent to ensure that no one sleeps hungry, Feed My Mumbai is part of the Feed My City campaign, through the KVN Foundation, that provides freshly cooked nutritious meals to the needy in 5 cities - Bangalore, Hyderabad, Noida, Chennai and Mumbai. . Read More

The Don Bosco South Asia BOSCOM Executive Body had a lengthy 04-hour Google Meet on 25 April 2020, moderated by BOSCOM Delegate Father Ernest Rosario. Due to the various constraints effected by the nationwide lockdown to contain the escalation of the COVID-19, this was an extremely beneficial real-face-time meet of the 15-member BOSCOM Executive Body via Google Meet. . Read More

Don Bosco was a great visionary leader of the world, who dedicated his life for youth and children, the most vulnerable group at all times in the world. Today, the UN Secretary General Antonio Gutierrez says COVID 19 will hit hard the children and youth. The logo conceptualised and designed by Bosconet - Mission Office of South Asia, Delhi, is nominated by an international panel to promote the global campaign of Don Bosco Solidarity for COVID 19 Relief.. Read More

Even as India is in its Day 29 of the nationwide lockdown, further extended till 03 May, the Don Bosco Development Society [DBDS] Mumbai which also functions as the MumbaiSalesians' Province Planning and Development Office [PDO], continues its relentless COVID-19 outreach in the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat, which rank as the 1st and 2nd most affected of the Indian states. DBDS Mumbai has been coordinating a sustained Relief Outreach, ever since the imposition of the lockdown, till date, reaching out to 40, 000 deprived individuals in Maharashtra and Gujarat,thanks to substantial financial aid from its funding partners. . Read More

DBDS [Don Bosco Development Society], the Mumbai Salesians' PDO [Province Planning and Development Office] had initiated COVID-19 relief outreach, thanks to its funding partners, facilitating provision of essential food, hygiene and toiletries to 10,000 individuals from impoverished underprivileged backgrounds in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai assisted by the Mahanagar Gas Ltd. In the cities of Vadodara and Pune too, relief outreach is underway, thanks to financial aid from Mix-for-Kids Germany and Manos Unidas Spain.. Read More

The Salesian Province of Bombay [INB] mourns the loss of Coadjutor Salesian Br. Michael Condillac who passed away at 1500 hrs on 12 April 2020, at Karuna Hospital, Borivali-Mumbai. Br. Condillac was 78 years old and a Salesian for 38 years.. Read More