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.
15 Jan 2012 - 6:18am | Anup Arandhara
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi dedicated the Waste heat recovery project of Lakwa Tharmal Power Project for Assam on Friday. With the functioning of the plant this thermal power station will generate...
5 Aug 2008 - 12:48pm | Aiyushman Dutta
When the going gets tough, the tough gets going, so sang Billy Joel. But when the going really gets tough, life tends to get disheartening, discouraging and everyday seems like drudgery. But once...
12 Dec 2017 - 11:32am | AT News Dimapur
Kohima: Finally, TR Zeliang and Dr Shurhozelie Lietzietsu have ender differences a couple of months before the assembly polls. TR Zeliang told MP Neiphiu Rio that he did not approach him in June...
28 Nov 2010 - 2:18pm | Aiyushman Dutta
The East Zone eliminations for Livewire Mood Indigo, the annual rock fest of IIT Bombay, will be held at Gangtok on November 30 next. A number of bands from the Northeast have applied for...
Guwahati: The Delhi-based International Human Rights Council has announced an “Ambassador for Peace” Award for retired Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati. The Award will be conferred on 9th December 2019 in New Delhi in the presence of invitees from all over the country and abroad. One of the earlier recipients of the Award is the Dalai Lama among many other internationally known figures.
International Human Rights Council is one of the world’s leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. By focusing international attention where human rights are violated, the organization gives voice to the oppressed and hold oppressors accountable...
Guwahati: Salesian Cardinal Charles Maung Bo concluded his weeklong visit to the Northeast India on Wednesday, November 13, 2019, after a concluding concelebrated Mass in Salesian Provincial House, Guwahati. Cardinal Bo, the President of the Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences (FABC) and Archbishop of Yangon, made his first ever visit to the region, known as the cradle of the Salesian missions in India.
Cardinal Bo was the main celebrant of the Eucharist and annual Eucharistic procession which was attended by some 2,00,000 people from the region. The Cardinal won the hearts of the faithful of the Khasi and Jaintia Hills with the Eucharistic...
Kolkata: Bengal Governor, Shri Jagdeep Dhankar, formally launched the 4th Edition of “Wisdom Speaks” - a trilingual multi- disciplinary-peer-reviewed journal – published by Indian National Forum of Art and Culture (INFAC), a premier non-profit working for the promotion and invigoration of Art and Culture in India since 2005 at the ICCR event in Kolkata, 16 November.
First Lady, Smt Sudesh Dhankar, was also present at the cultural function attended by eminent dignitaries and personalities. The cultural program was organized by INFAC in collaboration with ICCR (Indian Council For Cultural Relations).
On the occasion, uniquely crafted Durga icons by Kolkata- based Church Art was...
Guwahati: A book entitled ‘Pregnancy and Pregnancy Care Practice – the lived experience of the Bodos’ authored by Assistant Professor at Department of Sociology Dr. Jacob Islary was officially launched today, 29th October 2019 by Vice Chancellor, Assam Don Bosco University Fr. (Dr.) Stephen Mavely, in the presence of a large gathering of faculty and students of the University.
Introducing the book, the author Dr. Islary spoke of ‘his childhood observation of the phenomenon of pregnancy and pregnancy care practice among communities – social and community sanctions outside marriage and celebrations within marriage’ and later his thought on ‘how did communities in the past understand...
Sonada: The Women’s Cell of Salesian College Sonada along with Radio Journalists (RJ) of Radio Salesian organized a rally on 25th October 2019 to create awareness on the need of child support and prevention of human trafficking.
The rally was lead by Assistant Professors Miss Nomu Sherpa accompanied by Miss Pinky Gupta, Miss Shreya Agrawal, Mr Manoresh Thapa and two RJ's of Radio Salesian RJ Smriti and RJ Rejina and students of Salesian College Sonada.
Guest Faculty Miss Bernali Gupta was also part of the Organising Committee.
The rally with some 150 plus students in college uniform and carrying placards on child support and prevention of human trafficking started at 12:30 pm from...
A Gorkha Youth Trust held first ever intellectual symposium entitled the Gorkha Youth Summit 2019 (GYS) in Darjeeling at Gorkha Dukha Niwarak Sammelan (G.D.N.S) Auditorium from 17 to 18 October.
Various acclaimed youths and personalities of the Hills in the field of Education, Research, Environment, Art and Cinema, Music, Drama and Poetry, Literature, Sports, Politics, Journalism, Academics, Business and Social Field took part in the panel discussions and seminars over two days.
The MBKS (Mukh Bandh Kaam Suru - stop chatter, start work) Trust designed the summit up on the foundation of the likes of the Literary Fests, Ted Talks, World Economic Forum, Oxford Union Debates &...
Shillong: A group of college students from northeast India spent their puja vacation learning leadership skills based on Biblical principles and Leadership Style of Jesus at Siloam wellness centre from 4th to 9th October 2019.
Some 110 students from 18 Colleges/Universities in northeast India including students from Salesian College Siliguri and Sonada, North Bengal participated.
Students from Manipur and Nagaland colleges could not participate at the popular annual event due to severe road conditions caused by landslides.
Eighth in a series, the program christened Galilee Trail 2019 is a 6-day intensive group program in Christian leadership for college students that seek to...
A city in school in Kolkata has become the first of a group of schools in eastern India to adopt the philosophy ‘Learn to Learn’ for its teachers, parents and students.
The ‘Intellectual Meet to usher in the 21st Century teaching and learning methodology for students & parents’, was held at Our Lady Queen of the Missions School (QMS) – Salt Lake, Kolkata, on 7th September 2019.
Eminent personalities and educationists from various states of East and North-East India participated in the day-long event.
“Unlike other e-learning portals that provide content and courses, Edubrisk is a process oriented platform built using the latest technology and software bringing in a...
Guwahati: Speaking at the 8th annual Convocation of Assam Don Bosco University Guwahati, 7th September 2019, Governor of Assam Prof. Jagdish Mukhi said, “The government of India wants to establish the country as an ‘AI Garage.’
The Governor explained saying, “It means that if a company can deploy an AI technology in India, it will then be applicable for the whole developing world. AI research in India will focus on healthcare - increasing access and affordability of quality healthcare; agriculture - enhancing farmer’s income, farm productivity and reduction of wastage; education- improving access and quality of education; smart cities and infrastructure- efficient connectivity for the...
Kolkata: Mother Teresa’s country man His Excellency Nehat Emini Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Macedonia in New Delhi visited Mother Teresa’s tomb in Kolkata a day after her 22nd death anniversary on 6th September 2019.
H.E. Emini was accompanied by H.E. Namit Bajoria, Honorary Consul of Macedonia in Kolkata an eminent entrepreneur and philanthropist who installed life size statue of Mother Teresa cast in bronze. It is installed at Archbishop’s House along with the life size bronze statue of St Pope John Paul II who stayed at the venue in February 1986.
On arrival at the Mother House H.E. Emini was received by Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity Sister Mary Prema...
Add new comment