NEWS

Salesian Leaders' Meet Charts Future Priorities Rooted in Christ
The Province of St. Joseph, Hyderabad successfully convened the Province Leaders' Meet from June 16 to 18, bringing together fifty members of council members, rectors, commission heads and parish priests from across the province for a three-day intensive reflection on the final document of the General Chapter 29 (GC29) and to discern the future direction and priorities of the province.
Fr. Santiagu Thomas, Provincial of the Hyderabad Province, and Fr. Salagala Rajesh, the provincial delegate to the General Chapter 29, jointly facilitated the sessions.
The meeting commenced on June 16 with a report on the January 2025 Leaders' Meeting, presented by Fr. Nireekshan, Provincial Secretary. The Provincial guided the participants through reflections on Core Area One of the GC29 document, emphasizing the centrality of Christ, the care of the Salesian vocation, fraternity, attention to the poor, and the formation of Salesians. His input, grounded in his lived experience at the General Chapter, inspired deep group discussions. The day concluded with a group presentation and the Holy Eucharist, celebrated by Fr. Santiagu.
On June 17, Fr. Salagala Rajesh animated the day's sessions, focusing on spirituality and shared mission within the Educative-Pastoral Community (EPC), as well as evangelization through education and emerging expressions of the Salesian charism. The sessions enabled collaborative engagement and fostered rich sharing during the group presentations.
The final day, June 18, was dedicated to outlining the province's key priorities. In the process of discernment, the leaders placed a strong emphasis on the centrality of Christ, care for Salesian vocations, neighbourhood outreach to the poor and migrants, and the strengthening of the Salesian presence in the digital world.
An interactive session on faith development and accompaniment was led by Fr. Raja SDB, drawing insights from M. Scott Peck's stages of faith, prompting personal and pastoral reflection. The Leaders' Meet concluded with financial and planning reports presented by the Provincial Economer and PDO Office, followed by the presentation of the province's annual planner.