Don Bosco Salesian Missionaries mark 100 years of service in the northeast India

The thanksgiving Holy Mass to mark 100 years of the service of Don Bosco Salesian Missionaries in the North East was held on October 30 at Shillong, Meghalaya, northeast India.
 
The grand finale and solemn celebration were held on the grounds in front of the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians in Shillong.
 
Over 20, 000 people attended the event.
 
Father Angel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Don Bosco Salesian Missionaries, addressed the congregation. It was the last official program of his visit to Northeast India on the occasion of the centennial of the Salesian presence in that land. 
 
Then Archbishop Victor Lyngdoh of Shillong opened the celebration and welcomed all those present, starting with the Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal, Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli. 

In the homily he delivered in front of the vast assembly of faithful, composed of thousands of people of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, and classes, the Apostolic Nuncio briefly retraced the history of the arrival of the Salesians in the Northeast of India and expressed his appreciation, along with that of the Holy Father, whom he represented, for this great work of evangelization, education, and human promotion carried out by them in this century, with great zeal and dedication. 

He appreciated the enthusiasm, creativity, and vigor of the youth. The faith of the people of northeast India is deep and fervent. 

"We pray to God that He may make you young people instruments of his peace. You can really make peace in the world," he said. "We are here today to thank God for their mission to go and proclaim. Now it is our turn to go and proclaim. You young people must go on social media to proclaim to other young people about Christ and peace."
 
Then, referring to the readings of the day, he emphasized the importance of knowing how to return to God after one's mistakes and the divine power that can bring His acts to completion, making use of our faith as well. Then, regarding the Gospel, he noted that an encounter with Jesus leads to conversion, and this to performing concrete acts of change and healing in one's life. He, therefore, encouraged all present by reminding them that when one is in sin and far from God, He never abandons His children.
 
He concluded, "May St. John Bosco protect all Salesians working in Northeast India! Let us go and proclaim the Gospel of Christ to our neighbors!" 

Some representatives of the different tribes of Northeast India offered various intentions during the Prayers of the Faithful.
 
At the end of the Mass, Father Artime delivered his message to the large audience of faithful present there.
 
He said he was grateful to God for the grace of these 100 years of Salesian presence in Northeast India; emphasized how Salesian engagement in the region has been accomplished in collaboration with other religious families—Jesuits, Salvatorians, etc.—and many other men and women of goodwill; and thanked Msgr. Lyngdoh for proclaiming this year of gratitude race because of the anniversary.

Finally, he reiterated that the focus to be kept in mind for this century of Salesian work is not on the Salesians, but on all that good God has done for them and through them, and urged today's Sons of Don Bosco to continue to work ardently for the good of young people. 
 
Concluding, the Apostolic Nuncio to India also wished to offer some final insights, in which he celebrated the faith of the people of the Northeast and the creativity and energy of the youth, to whom he gave the mandate to work for peace and evangelize through social networks.
 
A commemorative book on the history of the Salesians in Northeast India was also released at the end of the Mass.
 
"The celebration was a grand success. The ambiance of the celebration was very prayerful and imbued with a sense of gratitude to God for the 100 years of service by Salesians in the Northeast," Salesian Father Daniel Cajee of Shillong Province told RVA News.

According to him, as many as 802 Salesians are working in North East India, out of a total of 3000 Salesians in India.
 
Other guests who were present include Bishop Lumen Monteiro of Agartala, Bishop Stephen Rotluanga of Aizawl, Thomas Menamparampil, the Archbishop Emeritus of Guwahati, Father Januarius Sangma, the Provincial of Guwahati, Father Jose Kuruvachira, the Provincial of Dimapur, Father Clive Telles, the Provincial of Panjim, Father Davis, the Provincial of New Delhi, Father Anselm Nonglang, diocesan administrator of Nongstoin, Father Ferdinand Dkhar, the diocesan administrator of Jowai, Father Joe D Souza, the founder of the Disciples, Conrad Sangma, the Chief Minister of the Government of Meghalaya, some cabinet ministers, a few government officials of Meghalaya, religious leaders from various denominations and faiths, more than 200 priests, a big number of religious men and women, the members of the Salesian family and Catholics from various parts of Northeast India, especially the delegates of the Youth Expo 2022. 

In his message, Conrad Sangma, the Chief Minister of the Government of Meghalaya, said, 
 
"What a great blessing to have  Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli and Rector Major Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime bless the people of Shillong and Meghalaya in the Holy Mass to mark 100 years of the service of Don Bosco Salesian Missionaries in the North East."
 
"The 100th anniversary of Don Bosco missionaries in the North East is marked by love and dedication to uplifting the region's underserved communities. We pray that they continue to serve as messengers of God’s love for the people," Sangma said.
 
"We were so blessed to also have with us our dear Archbishop of Shillong Archdiocese, Victor Lyngdoh, the Bishops, Priests, and Sisters and the Faithful of the Catholic Church of Northeast India. May God’s favour and blessing be with each of us," he added. - With input from Agenzia iNfo Salesiana