Indian Salesian priest, who turns 100, continues to counsel people

An Indian Salesian priest, one of India’s first priest psychologists, who turned 100 years old on March 19, continues to counsel people and inspire them.

Father Peter Vincent Lourdes, a member of Kolkata Salesians in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, celebrated his 100th birthday at Nitika Don Bosco in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta).

Founded in 1859 by the Italian priest John Bosco to assist impoverished and migrating children amid the Industrial Revolution, the Salesians of Don Bosco—formally known as the Society of Saint Francis de Sales—are a Catholic Church religious organization of men.

With a career that reads like a scorecard of centuries—50-plus years in counseling, teaching, and spiritual direction—this Salesian priest has smashed every boundary thrown his way.

Fr. Lourdes isn’t just a priest; he’s a pioneer. One of India’s first priest psychologists, he’s armed with a trophy cabinet of degrees: a doctorate in psychology from Salesian University, Rome; a master's in somatic psychology from California; and a PhD from Loyola University, Chicago.

Adding a certification in massage therapy from San Francisco, he demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of mind, body, and soul.

His achievements, ranging from leading the Psychology Department at the National Vocation Service Centre in Pune to founding the Salesian Psychological Association, are truly legendary.

However, it's the personal touches that make his story truly captivating. As a young boy in 1937, he was roll number 28 at Don Bosco School, Liluah—one of the first students.

Decades later, he returned as a rector, demonstrating the cyclical nature of life. His books, like “Wow Jesus!”—born from homilies for the girls of Loreto Convent, Entally—bring the Gospel to life with a practical spin, while The Clash dives deep into the tussle between Transcendental Meditation and psychology.

“When you love something, it speaks to you,” he once quoted scientist George Washington Carver, a philosophy that guided his pen and his priesthood.

Students still rave about his classes. “The most sought-after and fruitful,” recalls Mr. Devasia, a Salesian College alum.

From serving as the principal of Salesian College Sonada in the late 1960s to establishing a psychotherapy practice in Kolkata today, Fr. Lourdes has consistently demonstrated his commitment to excellence.

Ordained a priest in 1954, he marked 60 years of priesthood and 70 years of religious profession in 2014 with a grand celebration.

He battled COVID-19 in 2020, hoisting the Tricolor on Independence Day on August 15, 2020, outside Fortis Hospital; oxygen support is now a distant memory. Then, a 94-year-old priest triumphed over the pandemic.

Now, even at 100, he continues to counsel, inspire, and demonstrate that age is merely a statistic.

He has been a true beacon of light. For a century, Fr. Peter has been a living testament to God’s love, inspiring countless lives through his unwavering faith, boundless compassion, and selfless service.

From guiding the young to comforting the weary, his legacy is a tapestry of hope, kindness, and devotion.