Salesians of Don Bosco
Province of St. Francis Xavier Bombay (INB)
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.
Celebrating Teachers’ Day across INB
On 5 September every year, Teachers’ Day is celebrated across India. Students show their love and gratitude towards their educators in a long-standing tradition that also commemorates the birth anniversary of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, an eminent educator and the second president of India. With the aim of educating the young, the Province of Bombay has educational institutions across the entire region, and it comes as no surprise that Teachers’ Day was celebrated with much pomp and zest.
At Don Bosco, Chhotaudepur, dances ranging from traditional Rajasthani numbers to Western mashups were performed by the students. A couple of songs rich with meaningful words apt for teachers were sung with live music, with the kids themselves accompanying the singers on the musical instruments.
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.
Strenna 2023
AS THE YEAST IN TODAY’S HUMAN FAMILY.
The lay dimension of the Family of Don Bosco
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.
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.
