The meeting of Provincial delegates for the Salesian family SDB and FMA with representatives of the other Salesian Family members was held from 01- 04 November 2023 at Dimapur Don Bosco Institute for Development and Leadership (DBIDL)

 This maiden venture for the Salesian family was provided by a Team of 5 animators of the Salesian Family SDB & FMA from Rome. They were Fr. Joan Lluis Playa SDB, Rector Majors delegate for the Salesian family, Br. Dominico Duc Nam SDB, in charge of Salesian Cooperators, Fr. Alejandro Guvara SDB in charge of ADMA, Sr. Leslye Sandigo FMA General councillor for the Salesian Family and Sr. Lucrecia Uribe in charge of the Salesian family. They have proved that they are a group fired with zeal and passion to do all they can to animate the Salesian family even before meeting them.

The meeting commenced on 01 November 2023 with the Holy Eucharist inserted with Lauds.  The inaugural session started with the welcome address by the provincial of Dimapur Fr. Jose Kuruvachira. He expressed his joy in choosing DBIDL at Dimapur as the setting for this meeting because of its unique geographical position and cultural richness.   The Team from Rome and the participants, 12 SDB province delegates, 7 FMA delegates, 8 other Salesian family members and four special invitees were welcomed with indigenous coats, shawls and stoles befitting kings and queens. Fr.  Joan L Playa gave the introductory talk on the objectives and aims of the meeting.  As the mini translator system was made available by Br. Dominic Duc Nam SDB   all could immediately catch up with the session. 

Fr. Joseph Manippadeth the Salesian family Delegate for South Asia presented the strategic plan and the challenging future core areas with updated statistics and the volume of growth that we can expect if we work as a united force.   Based on the presentation the assembly had a group discussion on two questions one on the pertinent insights and the second on plans to strengthen the Salesian family which was followed by a group discussion and assembly.  Every afternoon the provincial delegates shared the best practices. The day ended with evening prayer and goodnight.

 On 02 November the day dedicated to the departed soul commenced with morning prayer by an animated PPT by Sr. Stella Potteprambil and the Holy Eucharist guided by the provinces of Kolkata and Mumbai.  Fr. Joan Lluis Playa SDB the representative of Rector Major officiated the Holy Eucharist.  

At 9 a.m. session was conducted by Sr. Leslie Santigo FMA the General Councilor for the Salesian family on the topic of Animation and accompaniment of the Salesian family.  She and Sr. Lucrecia Uribe used two modern techniques called Escape room and Museum walk to make their session captivating and enriching.  The topics for discussion were the prophecy of being a charismatic Family in the Church, the Prophecy of being communion in synodality, Prophecy of being a shared mission.

On 03 November was a unique day as the Youth Ministry who had their meeting in the Dimapur Provincial house joined the Salesian family for the Eucharist.  The 9 am session was animated by the General councillor for youth Ministry from Rome, Don Miguel A Gracia SDB on the theme “Salesian Family with a strong apostolic Spirituality elucidating the following points with a PPT presentation:

1.            The unifying motivation and raison detre of the Salesian family.

2.            The Salesian family came out of Don Bosco’s love for the young

3.            Acting and cooperating as a Salesian family in pastoral terms 

4.            Attentive, involved, intrepid

The last day of the Salesian meet had its uniqueness with the presence of Fr. Biju Michael regional councillor for South Asia who celebrated the Holy Eucharist.  In his address, he stressed the qualities required to raise a group to the level of the Family and community.   The day ended with the formulation, editing and acceptance of the manifesto of the meeting:

The other aspects which made the meeting very engaging and interesting were the presentation of the charismatic identity of the other groups of the Salesian family, the Missionaries sisters of the Mary Help of Christians by Viji John Thachil, Catechist sisters of Mary Immaculate by Sr. Jancy Francis, Visiting sisters of St. John Bosco by  Sr. Tiewra m. Mowlong , Disciples by the founder Fr. Joe D’Souza, Salesian Cooperators By Mr. T.K Devasia world delegate of the Salesian cooperators, Salesian Past pupils by Mr. Valerian Pakma besides the sharing of the best practices by Provincial delegates of SDB and FMA.

The visit to the provincial House for Dinner with youth Ministry delegates and the visit to the Dimapur college painted the days in rainbow colours invigorating the body with elixir of Salesian warmth, joy, enthusiasm and love.

Sr. Stella Potteparambil FMA