On the occasion of an unprecedented and historic event of the swearing in of the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister in northeast India ending 15 years of Congress rule in the state of Assam, the members of the Salesian Family gathered to pray and wish their alumnus Chief Minister designate Mr Sarbananda Sonowal, 23 May.
Some 80 Salesian Fathers and Brothers, Salesian Sisters, MSMHC Sisters, Sisters of Mary Immaculate, Alumni Office bearers and Salesian Cooperators were present along with Sr Lucy Rose General Councilor of Salesian Sisters from Rome, MSMHC Superior General Sr Philomena Mathew, FMA Provincial Sr Elizabeth George and SMI provincial Sr Sharlene Pulikal at the meeting held at Salesian Provincial House Guwahati.
The Salesian Family members from Guwahati gathered for the conclusion of the Extraordinary Visitation of the Salesian province of Guwahati by Councilor General for Missions Fr. Guillermo Basanes who was in the province for over three months visiting all 30 plus Don Bosco Institutions in the state.
After a moment of prayer and welcome words Guwahati Salesian Provincial Fr V.M. Thomas gave a briefing on the historic moment for the state on the significant feast of Don Bosco’s Madonna – MaryHelp of Christians, celebrated solemnly world over on 24 May.
“Don Bosco is the reason we are here,” said Fr Thomas welcoming members of the Salesian Family which has world over 30 constituent bodies.
Fr Thomas recalled the presence of Mr Sonowal who addressed some 60 leaders of the province during their provincial chapter on 20 February 2016 where he spoke about the moral values he learned at school adding, “I have become what I am because of the education I received at Don Bosco.”
Fr Thomas also added that there were three Sonowal brothers studying at Don Bosco School Dibrugarh at the same time and the school waved the fees for one of the brothers and educated him free.
Salesian Sister Grace, Superior of St Mary’s Guwahati recalled how Sonowal as Member of Parliament form Dibrugarh was a frequent help for their Little Flower School Dibrugarh.
Fr Thomas who is also the national president of the Conference of Religious India which has over 1.25 lakh religious men and women members said, “This is a historic moment for the state and the Salesian family when one of our own illustrious Alumnus is taking the reins of the state.”
“As a past pupil of Don Bosco I fully believe that Sonowal will build a civilization of love, peace and justice ushering in a new era of hope and development for the aspiring youth of the state,” said Fr Thomas who founded the Don Bosco Institute Kharguli in Guwahati for the leadership training of youth of the state and the region.
"We expect a good relationship with the new government," said Archbishop John Moolachira of Guwahati adding “The church in Assam is praying and hoping that there will not be any anti-Christian violence.” Assam has some 31 million people, but Hindus are about 60 percent against the national average of 80 percent. Christians are a minority forming 1.1 million or 3.7 percent of the total population. Assam has some 600,000 Catholics spread over five dioceses of Bongaigaon, Dibrugarh, Diphu, Guwahati and Tezpur.
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