(ANS – Kolkata) – Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major, will be in Kolkata for the first time to attend the conclusion of the year-long Bicentenary celebrations of Don Bosco's birth. During the three-day function (26–28 September), to be attended by 1900 delegates, the Rector Major will visit various meaningful places and will preside at the main function at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata.
After interacting with children in Don Bosco Ashalayam (Hope Home) in Howrah– which marks 30 years of caring for street children and has 25 centres in Kolkata–Fr Á.F. Artime will visit a typical Salesian Bicentenary initiative for the poorest of the poor at Bhagar garbage dumping area inhabited by some 500 families. Several initiatives have been launched there to empower the people and wean them away from scavenging in the garbage dump. From there he will move on to Don Bosco Self Employment & Research Institute at Mirpara, near Liluah, imparting skill training to school dropouts.
The Rector Major will inaugurate a mural by an alumnus depicting the mission, vision and spirit of Don Bosco at the Don Bosco School (DBS) Liluah in Howrah.
He will attend the South Asia Salesian Family Congress at Don Bosco Liluah which marks the concluding ceremony of Don Bosco’s 200th birthday with the theme: One Family, One Mission. Some 1,900 delegates representing 11 groups of the Salesian Family will celebrate with him.
“These centres in Howrah district which the successor of Don Bosco will visit on his first trip to India are significant, as Don Bosco started his work first with street children and taught them skills to earn their livelihood,” said Dr Nirmol Gomes, the Provincial of Don Bosco Kolkata. It happens to be the first Indian Salesian province established in 1926.
On Monday 28 September 2015, the 10th successor of Don Bosco, will make a historic visit to the world headquarters of the Hindu religious order – Ram Krishna Mission monks at Belur Math near Liluah where he will interact with the order’s senior monks.
The Grand Finaleof the Bicentenary Celebration is scheduled for Netaji Indoor Stadiumon 28 September. Besides messages from civil and religious authorities, students from various institutes will present a cultural fiesta ending with a musical performance by alumni singers.
The Rector Major will be accompanied by Fr Ivo Coelho, the General Councillor for Formation, Fr Maria Arokiam Kanaga, South Asia Regional Councillor, Fr Giuseppe Casti, the World Delegate for Salesian Cooperators, Fr Horacio López, the Secretary of the Rector Major, and all twelve Salesian Provincials of the South Asia Region.
Don Bosco dreamed of his flourishing works in Calcutta and India in 1886, two years before his death. The Calcutta archdiocesan archives has a letter from Don Bosco to the Archbishop of Calcutta who requested him to open a house there.
Published 25/09/2015
