(ANS – Ranchi) – Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major, arrived in Ranchi on  1October 2015, together with Fr Horacio López, his Secretary; Fr Maria Arokiam, Regional Councillor; Fr Jose Mathew, Provincial INN and other confreres, at 7.00 p.m. He was accorded a traditional tribal welcome by the Salesian Family and friends of Don Bosco at Hatia Don Bosco, Ranchi.

He was ushered in with a tribal dance replete with rituals and related ceremonies. Words of welcome were spoken by Fr Hilarius Kullu, Rector of Don Bosco, Hatia. He expressed his immense joy and gratitude to the Rector Major for making the effort to travel so far and meet the Salesians and the people.

Various groups consisting of the Salesians, Salesian Family members, youth of the boarding hostels, and children of the parish danced and sang in honour of his visit to India. Floral tributes were given along with presents. The Rector Major expressed his gratitude for the simplicity and great love of the people. He gave them a short message inspiring them to continue walking along the path of Christian holiness under the care of their pastors.

Tomorrow the Rector Major is scheduled to visit Don Bosco Kokar, a distance of around eight kilometres from Hatia, where he will celebrate the Eucharist for the Parishioners. This will be followed by cultural programmes and visits to nearby Don Bosco Centres.

Don Bosco Hatia in Jharkhand State was one of the first houses to be established in the region for tribal groups consisting of Adibasis. The Salesians run a Hindi medium school and a parish. The Salesians sisters have a noviciate and a school in the same area.

Published 2/10/2015