Salesians of Don Bosco 

Province of St. Francis Xavier Bombay (INB)

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WAY OF THE CROSS

MUMBAISALESIANS

During this Holy Week, listen and meditate on the Way of the Cross on your travels or at home.

With short reflections and songs to make each station meaningful as we journey with Christ in his Passion, Death and Resurrection.

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Celebrating Don Bosco across INB

The Feast of Saint John Bosco all over the Salesian world, especially in the Province of Bombay, on 31 January 2024, was a celebration of the great founder saint who turned his dreams into a reality with God’s assistance. 

In preparation for the feast, the Shrine of Don Bosco’s Madonna, Matunga, prepared an online novena based on the theme ‘Live Your Dreams’ narrating a dream of Don Bosco every day.

Don Bosco High School, Matunga, celebrated the feast with Holy Mass at the Shrine with great enthusiasm and reverence. During the homily, Fr Ajoy Fernandes shared the significance of dreaming big and the dedication required to achieve those dreams. He underscored that relentless pursuit is the key to true success in life. After the Eucharist, the teachers expressed profound gratitude to the priests for their leadership and guidance.

Strenna 2024

“The dream that makes you dream”

A heart that transforms “wolves” into “lambs”

INB News & Events

 INB Commences the First Session of PC2024

The first session of the Provincial Chapter (PC2024) of the Salesian Province of Bombay (INB) was held on 4 January 2024 at Don Bosco Provincial House, Matunga. The theme of PC2024 in preparation for General Chapter 29 is "Passionate about Jesus Christ and Dedicated to the Young". 70 Salesians were present.

The meeting began with the Holy Eucharist at 7:00 a.m. celebrated by the Provincial of INB, Fr Savio Silveira. In his homily, Fr Silveira encouraged the capitulars with the words of the former Rector Major, Fr Egidio Vigano - to have an oratorian heart. This entailed making Jesus the foundation of every Salesian's life, displaying apostolic zeal and pastoral creativity. 

Ordinations at Matunga: INB Gets an Early Christmas Gift

It was a day of profound joy and immense gratitude to God and Mary Help of Christians, as Deacons Agnel James and Lawrance Vincent were ordained priests at the Shrine of Don Bosco's Madonna, Matunga-Mumbai, on 16 December 2023. The ordination ceremony, part of the solemn Eucharist, was presided over by Auxillary Bishop Dominic Savio Fernandes of the Archdiocese of Bombay.

The ordination ceremony was a grace-filled evening of prayer, thanksgiving, and invoking blessings, accompanied by the presence of nearly 50 Salesians, family members and well-wishers. The well-animated liturgy was further solemnised by the soul-stirring Shrine choir.

Fr Lawrence D’Souza Laid to Rest

Fr Lawrence D’Souza SDB was laid to rest in the Salesian Cemetery at Sewri Christian Cemetery at noon on 16 December 2023, in the presence of Salesians, his family and loved ones. Earlier in the morning, his mortal remains were brought to the Shrine of Don Bosco’s Madonna, Matunga, where many poured in to pay their respects. At 10 a.m., the Holy Eucharist was celebrated by Fr Savio Silveira, the Provincial.

Fr D’Souza passed away at 8:30 p.m. on 12 December 2023. He was 77 years old; a Salesian for 56 years, and a priest for 48 years. He has been versatile, with the ability to handle all sorts of responsibilities - from working in the missions of Africa and for the marginalised in the province to being an administrator, principal or parish priest.

Celebrating Diamond, Gold and Silver

The Salesian Province of Bombay (INB) celebrated the jubilees of religious profession and priestly ordination of 11 Salesians on 11 November 2023, at the Shrine of Don Bosco’s Madonna, Matunga, in the presence of Salesians, family members, well-wishers and friends.

The Jubilee Eucharist began at 6:30 p.m. and was presided by Fr Joaquim D’Souza who recounted how he had felt the Lord lead and guide him in his Salesian journey. The well-animated Eucharist was a fitting thanksgiving to the jubilarians’ many years of faithful dedication to the service of the young. 

The eldest jubilarian, Fr Joaquim D’Souza, celebrates the Diamond Jubilee of his Religious Profession. He has been a natural leader, serving not just the Province (INB) as Vice Provincial and Provincial but also the congregation as the Regional Councillor for South Asia. With a passion for Philosophy and being a Thomistic scholar himself, Fr D’Souza has dedicated many years to studying and teaching philosophy.

India – Mumbai Salesians for a Culture of Peace

ANS – Mumbai) - During August, September, and October 2023, educators from the Salesian Province of Bombay (INB) were immersed in an enlightening and thought-provoking induction programme focused on peace education. This initiative had been eagerly anticipated and fulfilled a longstanding aspiration of Fr Savio Silveira SDB, the Provincial of INB. He graciously invited Fr Peter Gonsalves SDB, a professor specialising in Peace Communication and Media Education at the Salesian University in Rome, to lead this exceptionally pertinent course for the present time.

The participants were presented with a comprehensive 180-page teachers' manual titled "Exercises in Peace Education," authored by Fr Gonsalves in 2003 and subsequently updated by him in 2018. 

The Salesian residence at Banswara, Rajasthan, was blessed and inaugurated by Rev. Devprasad Ganawa, Bishop of Udaipur, on 5 August 2023 in the presence of the Provincial of the Salesian Province of Bombay (INB) Fr Savio Silveira, and the Provincial Council members.

Fr Michael Bansode welcomed everyone and invited the Bishop to lead the prayer of blessing. The marble plaque engraved for the occasion was unveiled, and Fr Bansode, in keeping with the local culture, smashed a coconut on the ground below the plaque—a sign of good fortune. Fr Silveira inaugurated the new residence, while Bishop Ganawa blessed the chapel. It was Bishop Ganawa himself who laid the foundation stone of the residence on 24 January 2022. This was a historic moment in the lives of the Salesians of INB, as it was their first presence in the Diocese of Udaipur.   

There were priests and nuns from the Banswara Deanery as well as the Diocese of Udaipur present for the occasion. The Bishop presided over the Holy Eucharist, accompanied by the Provincial and the Vicar General. During the homily, the Bishop remarked, “We have been waiting for the presence of the Salesians in our diocese for the past twenty years.  We are very happy that you are now here with us; and that you will be offering our diocese the much-needed service of higher education.”

A felicitation programme was held to appreciate and thank various people who played an essential role in the Salesian presence in Banswara. The dignitaries were honoured with a garland, a pagadi, and a shawl as per the custom of the place. Fr Silveira addressed the gathering and thanked every individual who was a part of the residence building. He exhorted the people to pray for the educational projects of the Salesians. He also thanked Bishop Ganawa for inviting the Salesians to the Diocese of Udaipur. 

Echoes of Zion Ministries at World Youth Day 2023 | Lisbon, August 1 @echoesofzionministries3244

Led by Fr McEnroe Lopes SDB, a Salesian priest of the Province of Bombay, Echoes of Zion Ministries is a Youth Christian Gospel Band committed to spreading the Good News, to give the youth an experience of God and proclaim His word through music. 

It fills us with great joy to see Echoes of Zion go global at the World Youth Day 2023 at Lisbon. Do enjoy their segment of praise and worship.

Rome - The Holy Father appoints Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians, Cardinal of the Church

(ANS - Rome) - Today, 9 July, after the Angelus and reflection on the Gospel, Pope Francis announced the convocation of the Consistory for 30 September next for the appointment of 21 new Cardinals. Among the names of the new Cardinals was Rev. Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, the Rector Major of the Salesians.

The appointment of Fr Ángel Fernández Artime is a sign of the trust and hope that the Holy Father Pope Francis places in Fr Ángel and the Salesians of Don Bosco.

The inclusion of the new Cardinals in the diocese of Rome also manifests the inseparable bond between the See of Peter and the particular Churches spread throughout the world. Their provenance expresses the universality of the Church that continues to proclaim God's merciful love to all people on earth.

First and Perpetual Professions at INB 

It was a day of great joy for the Salesian Province of Bombay on the feast of Mary Help of Christians as six Salesian novices (3 INB and 3 INP) made their first profession at Don Bosco Church, Nashik, on 24 May at 0700 hours. Fr Savio Silveira sdb, the Provincial of the Province of Bombay, presided over the Eucharist. Fr Ian Figueredo, the rector of the prenovitiate, represented the Province of Panjim.

The six novices were prepared to make this important life-choice after a year of discernment under Fr Wyman Gonsalves sdb, the novice-master. Fr Silveira, in his homily, exhorted the newly professed to imitate the example of Mary in her gratitude and service as they begin their Salesian journey. 

On 3 December 2022, feast of St Francis Xavier, the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Salesian Province of Bombay culminated with an eventful evening of gratitude, remembrance and joy. Though the Salesians began work in the city in 1928, the Province of Bombay was incepted on 31 January 1972 - carved from the Province of Madras.

Bishop Barthol Barretto, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bombay, was the principal celebrant at the solemn Holy Eucharist held on the Shrine grounds at 5.30 p.m.. Along with him were present Bishop Allwyn D’Silva - Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bombay, and Bishop Lourdes Daniel, Bishop of the Diocese of Nashik. 

A Jubilee is a special occasion of grace to look back over the years, to take stock of blessings received, to give thanks, to celebrate successes and achievements and persons who made things possible, to acknowledge support and help received, to humbly admit failures and limitations, and to chart the path ahead in a spirit of humility and trust in the goodness of people and the providence of God.

Rector Major Visits INB

Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, the Rector Major of the Salesians, will be visiting the Salesian Province of Bombay from 21-23 October 2022. This will be his third visit to Mumbai since his appointment in 2013, and though Fr Á.F. Artime will be spending a short time in the Province, his schedule is packed with meetings, visits and celebrations. 

MumbaiSalesians Changing Lives 







Don Bosco - Our Father & Founder

Don Bosco was a charismatic Italian priest who lived and worked in the Italian city of Turin. His life’s work was the care of young people, especially the ‘poor and abandoned’. He approached his work in a unique and original manner, which he called the ‘Preventive System’. He founded the Salesians to continue his spirit and mission. He was proclaimed a Saint of the Catholic Church in 1934. 

St. John Bosco, was called ‘Don’ Bosco by his boys because ‘Don’ in Italian means ‘Father’. Today he continues to be fondly remembered by the same name. He founded an organisation that would take care of poor youth. He called his followers ‘Salesians’, a name he took from St. Francis de Sales, a popular Saint of his native place in northern Italy. He chose St. Francis de Sales as the patron of his society and encouraged his followers to imitate the Saint’s gentle humanism.

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Our Vision-Mission

We, the Salesians of Don Bosco, of the Province of St. Francis Xavier Bombay (INB),  inspired by the preferential love of Christ the Good Shepherd for the poor, and Don Bosco’s predilection for poor and disadvantaged youth, commit ourselves to the holistic advancement of youth at risk, especially the economically poor, both rural and urban, by empowering them to creatively address the factors responsible for their poverty.

We, as consecrated religious, carry out this vision according to our specific charism of education and evangelization, at the service of the church, in collaboration with the Salesian Family, our lay collaborators and other people of good will.