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Members of the Provincial Chapter 2027

Salesian Province of Panjim Opens Provincial Chapter 2027

3 September 2026

Chapter,

News reported by: Francis Xavier

The Salesian Province of Panjim opened its Provincial Chapter 2027 (PC2027) on September 2, 2026, at the Provincial House, Odxel. Thirty-six elected members took part in the first of three sessions traditionally held as part of the Province's Chapter process.

The Chapter opened with a solemn Eucharistic celebration. During it, the Provincial welcomed the members. It reminded them that their participation was a call from God to contribute to the renewal and growth of the Salesian mission in the Province.

The theme of PC2027 is “Rooted in Christ, Sent to the Young.” Its principal task is to implement the directives of the 29th General Chapter (GC29) in the Province and to align the Chapter's deliberations with its orientations.

Moderator Fr Ralin De Souza formally declared the Chapter open.

The members emphasised the need for a process of renewal and conversion within the Province, with a clear mandate for action to make the Salesian mission more effective in the light of GC29. To guide the deliberations, they proposed a five-step methodology:

What does GC29 call us to in this area?
What is actually happening in our Province?
Where do we see convergence, gaps or tensions?
What conversion or change seems necessary?
What two or three matters should the whole Chapter discern?

Chapter members subsequently selected the commissions that will work towards preparing the final Chapter document and supporting the Chapter's outcomes. These commissions will help carry the process forward.

In the afternoon session, the commission secretaries presented their understanding of the assigned themes and the proposed course of action for studying, evaluating and formulating their respective sections of the document. After each presentation, the floor was opened to commission members for responses, comments and suggestions.

The concluding discussions then covered a range of issues related to the Salesian mission and the outcomes expected from the Chapter. These included academic institutions, development plans, the modality of future Chapter sessions, the involvement of young people, lay collaborators, and members of the Salesian Family in the next session, the evaluation of the Province's mission priorities, and the formulation of criteria to identify what is distinctly and typically Salesian.

The Chapter has also launched www.inppc2027.in as a platform for communication and dissemination. The website was introduced to members to facilitate collaboration and to enable the wider Province to accompany and participate in the PC2027 journey.