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Salem, Yercaud:

Fifty Years Later, Yercaud Calls Them Home Again

8 September 2026

News reported by: Peter Gonsalves SDB

Fifty years can change almost everything—faces grow older, places transform, and lives take unexpected turns. Yet some beginnings remain etched in memory. For the 1976–1977 batch of Salesian novices, Yercaud is one such beginning.

From August 30 to September 1, the hills of Yercaud once again welcomed the group that had gathered there half a century ago to begin their novitiate. This time, they returned not as young novices wondering what the future might hold, but as seasoned Salesians and lay companions who had travelled different roads, served in diverse ministries and shared the joys and challenges of a life shaped by a common vocation.

The Golden Jubilee Get Together brought together 29 members—17 Salesians and 12 laity—from across India. More than an anniversary celebration, it was a homecoming to the place where friendships were forged and youthful dreams of consecrated service first took shape.

Where the journey began

The return to Yercaud seemed to collapse the distance of five decades. Familiar faces, though marked by the passing years, soon became the faces of old companions. Names were recalled, stories resurfaced, and long-stored memories came alive.

The mountain setting added its own poetry to the reunion. From Salem View, the participants gazed across the vast plains below, perhaps with a sense of wonder at how far their own lives had travelled since they had stood on the same hills as young men.

Then, they had looked towards the future. Now, they looked back with gratitude.

The Eucharist formed the spiritual centre of the gathering. A Solemn High Mass was celebrated in thanksgiving for five decades of God’s faithfulness. Fr Ivo Coelho, SDB, former General Councillor for Formation, reflected on the theme of thanksgiving, inviting the participants to recognise God’s presence in the people, places, ministries and experiences that had shaped their journey.

The celebration also carried a poignant note of remembrance. The group prayed for five companions who had begun the journey with them but were no longer present for the jubilee: Henry Gaikward, Josephraj, Maurice Figuiuredo, P. K. Thomas and K. P. Paul. Their absence was deeply felt, but their memories remained woven into the batch's story.

Five Provincials and countless lives touched

The 1976–1977 batch has left its mark on the Salesian mission in many ways. Among its members are five Provincials—Balan Noel, Humer Pinto, Ivo Coelho, Joy Sebastian and Raphael Jaypalan.

Yet their five decades of service cannot be measured by titles alone. Their ministries have taken them to schools, parishes, missions, formation houses and youth apostolates, where they have accompanied generations of young people and communities.

Perhaps their most enduring achievement is less visible: the fraternity that survived distance, changing circumstances and five decades of life.

And then came the laughter.

When the novices returned

The festive dinner transformed the gathering into something resembling a reunion of young men rather than a jubilee of veterans. Songs, dancing, jokes and hilarious memories filled the evening. Incidents from the novitiate, insignificant at the time, had acquired legendary status with age.

One story led to another. A name triggered a memory. A forgotten episode became the evening’s joke.

For a few hours, the years seemed to disappear. The novices of 1976 were together again—laughing, teasing and reliving the days when the future seemed limitless.

For some participants from Mumbai, the homecoming continued beyond the official programme. They stayed on for another day, exploring Yercaud’s lake, scenic vistas and botanical garden, while continuing conversations and reminiscences. Coffee and spices from the hill station became souvenirs of a journey that had already given them something more valuable—renewed friendships and memories.

The reunion, however, had already accomplished what it set out to do: bring together companions separated by time and distance and remind them of the grace of a shared beginning.

A special word of appreciation went to Fr Jaypalan, who took responsibility for organising the gathering and carried the arrangements through with dedication and perseverance.