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In practice, Salesian parishes and churches in South Asia often serve as centers of community development. They organize youth groups, family gatherings, catechetical instruction, and social outreach programs that respond to local needs, especially in rural and marginalized areas. Their pastoral style is missionary in spirit, reaching out to those on the peripheries and fostering collaboration with lay people. By integrating vibrant liturgies, cultural celebrations, and initiatives that connect faith with social responsibility, Salesian parishes become dynamic communities of hope and service—places where Don Bosco’s vision of forming “good Christians and upright citizens” continues to be lived out in everyday life.
Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil, Emeritus of Guwahati, recently met His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, presenting him with his latest books, I Came To Set Fire Upon The Earth and Exaggeration Invites Exaggeration.
A two-day National Seminar on the theme “The Laity: Partners in the Church’s Mission” was held at Sacred Heart Theological College (SHTC), Mawlai, Shillong, on September 11-12. Organised jointly by SHTC and the Oriens Theological Institute, the Seminar brought together nearly 350 participants, including members of the clergy, religious, theologians, seminarians and lay leaders from across India.
Don Bosco Theological Centre (DBTC), Kavarapettai, of the Salesian Province of Chennai, organised a symposium on “The Human Person in the Age of AI: Reception of Magnifica Humanitas” at The Citadel, Kilpauk, on August 27. The event focused on human dignity amid the rise of artificial intelligence.
The feast of St Maximilian Kolbe at Maximilian Kolbe Church, Mangalam, was celebrated from August 14 to 16 with three days of prayer, fellowship and community gatherings, culminating in a traditional procession to the sea and the blessing of the waters.
Fr. Joseph Jeyaraj Swaminathan SDB of the Salesian Province of Chennai, has been appointed as a Consultor to the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development by the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, on 11 August 2026. He will serve in this role for a five-year term from 2026 to 2031.
Salesian parish priests of the province of Mumbai gathered at the Provincial House on August 6, the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, for a day of reflection, study and planning focused on strengthening Salesian identity and pastoral ministry in parishes.
About 300 young people from 25 parishes of the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore participated in the second edition of Grace Gala 2026, a diocesan-level cultural festival organised by the Lourdes Shrine Youth (LSY) of Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, Perambur, on July 12.
Nearly 700 young people from 45 parishes of the Archdiocese of Madras-Mylapore gathered on 5 July at Don Bosco School, Madhavaram, for Summer Slam 2026, the second edition of the diocesan-level sports festival organised by the Lourdes Shrine Youth (LSY) of Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine, Perambur.
Nearly 100 residents of Mangalam's coastal villages, Alappuzha, Kerala, benefited from a free one-day medical camp organised by the Family Commission of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish, PHC Mangalam, and IDS Alappuzha, bringing much-needed healthcare services closer to a community that often faces challenges in accessing medical care.
The Salesian Province of St. Francis de Sales, Dimapur, held a two-day meeting of Parish Priests and Quasi Parish Priests on July 16–17 at the Don Bosco Provincial House, bringing together priests serving across Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Upper Assam to strengthen pastoral leadership and missionary outreach.
The Salesian Province of Chennai (INM) marked its Province Feast on July 3 at Don Bosco, Perambur, in honour of St. Thomas the Apostle, patron of the Province. The celebration also marked the Province's 92nd foundation anniversary and honoured Diamond and Golden Jubilee confreres, creating a day of thanksgiving, fraternity, and renewed commitment to the Salesian mission.
In the spirit of the Lenten season, around 300 faithful from Don Bosco Parish, Amsam, in the Archdiocese of Trichy, undertook a two-day pilgrimage to the historic Christian shrines of Tuticorin and Kanyakumari. Travelling together in six buses, the pilgrims transformed the journey into a meaningful experience of prayer, fellowship, and spiritual renewal.
The Salesian Cooperators Unit of Don Bosco Veedu organized a meaningful movie night under the theme “Watch a Movie, Support a Family,” blending art, fellowship, and outreach in the spirit of Christmas. The event featured the acclaimed Iranian film Children of Heaven, directed by Majid Majidi, with proceeds from ticket sales and refreshments earmarked to support a deserving family as part of the unit’s Christmas outreach initiative.
Sacred Heart Theological College, Mawlai–Shillong, rejoiced with Fr. Arul Kumar Sebastian, SDB, on the release of his scholarly book Religious Elevated to Episcopate: Formation & Juridical Interpretation of cann. 705–707 CIC 1983. The publication, a culmination of his extensive doctoral research at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, Rome, explores the canonical nuances surrounding the elevation of religious priests to the episcopate.
Don Bosco Parish, Oodlabari, held its Annual Retreat from 21st to 23rd November at Pathibari tea garden, drawing over 3,000 faithful from its 14 sub-centres. Led by Fr. Lijo VC and his team, the retreat offered a deeply moving experience of prayer, healing, and renewal.
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SOUTH ASIA REGION.
BM/2026/SA CIRCULAR 02
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Publisher: Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Year of publication: 2026
Available from: 4 March 2026
Pages: 928 pp., PaperbackMost Viewed News
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