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Rector Major Calls Chhotanagpur Youth and Salesian Family to Deeper Commitment and Mission
News reported by: Fr Edward Sacrawat sdb
The Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, the 11th Successor of John Bosco, visited the Don Bosco Youth Centre, Hesag, Hatia, Ranchi, bringing together youth and members of the Salesian Family from across the Chhotanagpur region for a spiritually enriching and mission-oriented gathering.
Traditional Welcome and Institutional Visit
The Rector Major was accorded a warm and culturally vibrant reception at the main gate by young people from Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, along with members of the Salesian Family. The Mahila Sangh of Christ the King Church, Hesag, welcomed him with the traditional hand-washing ceremony, symbolizing reverence and hospitality.
Fr. Pradeep Kumar Tirkey, head of the institution, formally received the Rector Major with a bouquet. Parish youth escorted him and the accompanying superiors with a traditional dance to the residence. Following a brief refreshment, he visited the campus, showing keen interest in the Centre’s educational expansion and outreach.
A Direct Message to the Youth
A large gathering of nearly 300 young people from the region assembled in the church to listen to the Rector Major. In his address, he called them to take responsibility for their lives and futures.
He emphasized five core convictions: personal accountability, bearing witness through lives filled with love and joy, making Jesus the center of one’s life, showing concern and solidarity with the poor, and working purposefully toward a bright and meaningful future. The address was followed by an engaging interaction and a photo session, allowing the youth to connect personally with him.
Guidance for Pre-Novices
The Rector Major also met with the pre-novices and formation staff. In a focused spiritual exhortation, he stressed the importance of cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus and maintaining openness with one’s spiritual director. His message underscored the centrality of interior formation and spiritual transparency in Salesian life.
Renewing the Vision of the Salesian Family
Members of the Salesian Family—including Salesian priests and brothers, Salesian Sisters, novices, SMI and MHMHC sisters, Disciple brothers and sisters, Salesian Cooperators, and ADMA members—gathered in the school hall for a collective interaction with the Rector Major.
The programme began with a welcome song by the Cooperators, followed by an official reception in which Fr. Tirkey presented the Rector Major with a bouquet, traditional cap, and bandi. In his address, Fr. Attard reflected on the Strenna and reiterated the call to stand in solidarity with the poor, reminding the gathering that poverty remains a pressing reality everywhere.
He highlighted that Salesian ministry must always be carried out in a family spirit and urged members not to lose sight of God amid their apostolic commitments. Speaking candidly, he identified a source of consolation in the growing strength of the Salesian Family and a source of desolation in the vast number of young people still in need of accompaniment and service.
Blessing and Departure
Before departing, the Rector Major gathered the Salesian community in the chapel and imparted the blessing of Mary Help of Christians, entrusting the house and its mission to her maternal protection. He then proceeded to the airport, accompanied by the Provincial, the Economer, and other confreres.
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