About Us
DON BOSCO
Don Bosco was born in a tiny little village called Becchi in northern Italy, on August 16, 1815. From an early age, he was drawn toward helping poor children. At the age of 9 he had a dream in which it was revealed to him that his life’s mission would be to help poor and disadvantaged youngsters. In 1835 he entered the seminary and supported himself by working as a tailor, blacksmith, shoemaker, carpenter, violinist, acrobat, and magician. All these talents came in handy during his lifetime of working with youngsters. He was ordained a priest on June 5, 1841, and settled down in the city of Turin. On December 8, 1841, he met an orphan Bartolomew Garelli, who became his first pupil. From that day Don Bosco’s work grew rapidly and he set up several homes and schools for poor and disadvantaged boys in Italy as well as in other parts of the world. Don Bosco died on January 31, 1888, and was canonized in 1934 as the Apostle of Youth.
The “Salesian Society” is an International Religious Organization within the Catholic Church, founded by Don Bosco to serve youngsters, especially those who are poor and disadvantaged. The key characteristics of the members of this Society are:
A special concern for the welfare of young people.
An attitude of loving kindness, optimism and cheerfulness.
A realistic perspective on life coupled with creativity and flexibility in action.
The use of an educative method called ‘The Preventive System’ which based entirely on reason, religion and loving kindness.
A deep trust in God and in his loving care for all people.
Presently there are close to 17,000 Salesians working in 128 countries spread out in all the five continents of the globe.
The first group of Salesian to come to India landed in Mumbai on January 6, 1906, under the leadership of Fr. George Tomatis. From Bombay they travelled to Thanjavur in South India where the first Salesian Institution in India was established. In 1922 the second group of Salesians, under the leadership of Fr. Louis Mathias, arrived in India and they began working in Assam. During the past 100 years that the Salesians have been in India, they have established educational institutions and other works for youngsters all over the country. Presently the Salesians in India are divided into 10 regions called “provinces”. There are over 2000 Salesians working in close to 300 institutions across the country.
Salesian Province of St. Francis Xavier Bombay (INB)
The Salesians began their apostolate in the city of Bombay in 1928 and from there it spread to other places in Maharashtra, Goa, and eventually all over western India. Their ministry in this region was blessed with rapid growth thanks largely to the phenomenal work done by Fr. Aurelius Maschio.
The Salesian Province of Bombay was officially established on January 31, 1972. It comprises the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh in western and central India. There are presently 210 Salesians working in 33 institutions spread out over these four states. These institutions offer a variety of services to poor and disadvantaged youth.
Societas Sancti Francisci Salesii (Society of Saint Francis de Sales)
Sigla
S.D.B.
Motto
Da mihi animas; caetera tolle
(Give me souls; take away the rest)
Principal Patroness
Mary Help of Christians
Titular
St Francis de Sales
THE SALESIANS OF DON BOSCO
OUR CORE TEAM
Provincial
Fr. Savio Silveira
Vice Provincial
Fr. Ashley Miranda
Provincial Economer
Fr. Manuel Murzello
Provincial Councillors
Fr. Blany Pinto
Fr. Glenford Lowe
Fr. Gregory D’Almeida
Fr. Isaac Arackaparambil
Fr. James Tuscano
Provincial Secretary
Fr. Vinod Mascarenhas
PROVINCIAL COMMISSIONS
Formation
Ashley Miranda
Banzelao Teixeira
Blany Pinto
Brian Moras
Ivan de Souza
Royston Colaco
Wyman Gonsalves
YOUTH MINISTRY SECTORS
Oratories and Youth Centres
Leon Cruz Ratinam
Bryce Fernandes
Ranson D’Souza
Renold Lemos
Richard D’Silva
Sunil Pinto
Academic Institutions
James Tuscano
Ajoy Fernandes
Bernard Fernandes
Bosco D’Mello
Pravin Makwana
Valerie Mascarenhass
Technical Institutions
Colbert da Silva
Amarr Prabhu
Anaclete D’Mello
Anthony Santarita
Melvyn Carvalho
Richard Burkhao
Sanjay Lopes
Youth at Risk
Gregory Almeida
Corlis Gonsalves
George Miranda
Roshan Gonsalves
Roy Noronha
Xavier Devadas
Parishes and Missions
Michael Bansode
Bastin Thomas
Dominic Martis
Savio D’Souza
Solomon Rapol
Development Work
Rolvin D’Mello
Anto Thomas
George D’Abreo
Mayank Parmar
Pratap Damor
Surekha Pednekar
Social Communication
Christopher George
Joseph Braganza
Joy Fernandes
Justus Mendis
Mayank Parmar
Mylin Noronha
Sunil Pinto
YOUTH MINISTRY DIMENSIONS
Youth Ministry Coordinating Team
Glenford Lowe (Coordinator)
Isaac Arackaparambil (Education to the Faith)
James Tuscano (Education and Culture)
Bryce Fernandes (Social Experience)
Blany Pinto (Vocational Guidance)
Education to the Faith
Isaac Arackaparambil
Anaclete D’Mello
Bosco D’Mello
Dominic Martis
Joy Fernandes
Mayank Parmar
Renold Lemos
Sanjay Lopes
Xavier Devadas
Education and Culture
James Tuscano
Amarr Prabhu
Bastin Thomas
Bernard Fernandes
Corlis Gonsalves
Justus Mendis
Ranson D’Souza
Surekha Pednekar
Valerie Mascarenhas
Social Experience
Bryce Fernandes
Anthony Santarita
Anto Thomas
George Miranda
Joseph Braganza
Pratap Damor
Pravin Makwana
Roshan Gonsalves
Savio D’Souza
Sunil Pinto
Vocational Guidance
Blany Pinto
Velasli Bandya
Ajoy Fernandes
George D’Abreo
Melvyn Carvalho
Mylin Noronha
Pannasingh Bhuriya
Richard Burkhao
Richard D’Silva
Roy Noronha
Royal D’Abreo
Shaun D’Lima
Solomon Rapol
ADMINISTRATION
Finance
Manuel Murzello
Corlis Gonsalves
Ravi Panjabi
Roy Noronha
Savarino D’Souza
Properties
Manuel Murzello
Anaclete D’Mello
Anthony Santarita
Deepali Raut
Gregory D’Almeida
Matthew Katara
Savarino D’Souza
Vishwas Pereira
Buildings
Manuel Murzello
Chetan Sompura
Crispino D’Souza
Savarino D’Souza
Thomas D’Costa
SALESIAN FAMILY CONSULTATIVE BODY
Diego Nunes
Manuel Murzello ADMA (Matunga)
Royal D’Abreo ADMA (Nashik)
Anthony Goyal ASC (Gujarat)
Ivan de Souza ASC (Pune)
Crispino D’Souza DBPP
Savio D’Souza MMA
Catherine Fernandes FMA-ASC
Shiny Alphonse FMA-PP
Sharmila D’Souza SMI
John Mathias ADMA (Matunga)
Beatrice Pinto ADMA (Nashik)
Jacinta D’Souza ASC
Rashmin Desai DBPP