The three-year-long centenary celebrations of the Salesian Province of Kolkata concluded with a grand finale highlighting renewed commitment to youth education and empowerment. More than 2,000 participants attended the event at Don Bosco Park Circus, including leaders from 12 Salesian provinces in India and Sri Lanka, along with major superiors of religious congregations collaborating in youth ministry.
Salesian Rector Major Father Fabio Attard, addressing the gathering, described the celebrations as a tribute to young people and the transformative role of education. He emphasised that poverty and unemployment are global challenges that can be addressed through the “arms of education and empowerment,” reaffirming the Salesian mission among vulnerable youth.
Reflecting on the congregation’s history, he recalled that Saint John Bosco had envisioned a mission extending to India as early as 1886. The Salesians arrived in India in 1906, and the Kolkata province, the first in the country, was established in 1926 after taking charge of the Catholic Orphan Press and Cathedral parish.
The centenary celebrations began on May 27, 2023, with a jubilee Mass at the Marian Shrine in Bandel presided over by Archbishop Thomas D’Souza of Calcutta. Outgoing provincial Father Joseph Pauria noted that the rector major’s presence inspired renewed enthusiasm for youth ministry. New provincial Father Sunil Karketta highlighted the importance of technical education in empowering young people.
