(ANS – Rome) – In recent days in addition to the presentation of the Charter of the Charismatic Identity  the Salesian Family has had another gift : the recognition by the Rector Major of  new Group that of the “Visitation Sisters of Don Bosco” (VSDB).The official approval of the VSDB was given on 24 January the liturgical feat of Saint Francis of Sales.

The Institute of the “Visitation Sisters Of Don Bosco” is a Religious Congregation of diocesan right, founded on 31 May 1983 by Archbishop Hubert D’Rosario SDB (1919-1994), archbishop of Shillong (1969-1994). On the day of the Foundation, which took place in the “Madonna” Convent in Shillong, there were 8 Sisters : at present the Congregation has 106 professed, 16 novices and 9 aspirants, in 18 houses in the States of Meghalaya and Assam, in the north east of India.

The mission of the Congregation is in three areas: evangelisation, education and sustained development  especially of the poor who are living in the rural villages in ion economically deprived areas  For the most part, the Visitation Sisters of Don Bosco are working in the underdeveloped areas mainly  devoting themselves to catechesis. They have a simple and poor style of dress and behaviour and are engaged in the apostolate  in being close to the people on  a daily basis, responding to their needs with the motto, inspired by the Gospel  of  Matthew (28, 19): “Go, Disciple”.

The Mother General at the moment is Sr. Cecilia Sad.

At present there are 30 Groups making up the Salesian Family. Recently the Daughters of the  Queenship of Mary Immaculate, a diocesan Institute founded by Fr Carlo della Torre in Bangkok in 1954, decided to split: the Daughters of the  Queenship of Mary Immaculate consecrated lay persons  and the Sisters of the  Queenship of Mary Immaculate, consecrated religious women.

Published 27/01/2012