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MUMBAI, July 9:

Mumbai Salesian Province Aligns Pastoral Planning with Child Safeguarding and Data Protection

9 July 2026

Missions,

News reported by: Fr Joyston Machado SDB

The Salesian Province of Mumbai brought together the heads of its various commissions at the Don Bosco Provincial House for the annual Commissions Meeting, marking spiritual renewal, strategic pastoral planning, and a renewed commitment to child safeguarding and data protection.

The day-long programme opened with the Eucharistic celebration. It included the Provincial's address, a keynote session by Fr Joe Prabhu, National Youth at Risk Coordinator, dimension-wise discussions, and commission meetings to translate the Province's pastoral priorities into concrete action for 2026–2027.

Reflecting on the Gospel of the day, the Vice Provincial urged the Commission Heads to embrace four guiding principles—proclaim, give freely, travel light, and peace—as the foundation of their ministry. He reminded participants that their primary vocation is one of animation rather than administration, calling them to proclaim the Gospel through healing relationships, generous service, and simplicity of life.

Drawing inspiration from St John Bosco, he stressed that the Salesian mission must remain close to young people, particularly the poor and vulnerable, without allowing administrative or financial concerns to overshadow its pastoral purpose.

Central to the meeting was the integration of the four dimensions of the Salesian Educative Pastoral (SEEP) framework—Education to Faith, Education and Culture, Social Experience, and Vocational Guidance—across all commissions. Participants were encouraged to treat these dimensions as shared responsibilities that require collaboration.

Special emphasis was placed on preserving vocational guidance as a process of discerning God's call rather than limiting it to career counselling, while also strengthening youth leadership, social engagement, and community participation.

Commission Heads were tasked with preparing their 2026–2027 Action Plans in alignment with the Province Organic Pastoral Plan (OPP). Each commission will identify measurable objectives, assign responsibilities, establish timelines, and submit the plans within a week through official communication channels. Future commission meetings will be coordinated with respective sector directors.

A major highlight of the gathering was a session by Fr Joe Prabhu on the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), child safeguarding, and institutional data governance. He reminded participants, “I am not data, I am a person,” underscoring that safeguarding begins with recognising the human person behind every record.

The session outlined the Province's evolving data protection framework, emphasising responsible collection of personal information, informed written consent—especially for minors—clear communication of data usage, role-based access to records, confidentiality protocols, secure storage practices, and compliance with child safeguarding policies. Participants were also encouraged to conduct staff orientation programmes in regional languages and to rely on official institutional email for formal communication.

The day concluded with sector-wise commission meetings involving Formation, Youth Ministry, Schools, Technical Institutions, Higher Education, Parishes, Social Ministry, Missionary Animation, and Social Communication. Members began translating the Province's priorities into practical pastoral initiatives for the coming year.

The annual meeting reaffirmed the Salesian Province of Mumbai's commitment to missionary animation, collaborative pastoral planning, institutional accountability, and safe environments for every young person entrusted to its care. As the Commission Heads returned to their respective ministries, they carried a clear mandate: to transform the Province's vision into concrete action through service, integrity, and hope.