(ANS – Sirajuli) – On 22 November in the presence of two Bishops, the Councillor for the Missions and the Regional Councillor, the local Provincial and a number of other Salesians, benefactors and young people, the “Archbishop Humberto D’Rosario” missionary Aspirantate located in Sirajuli, India was officially opened.

It is the 13th missionary aspirantate set up by the Salesian Congregation and the first outside Europe. The decision to open it was made by the Provincial Council of Guwahati (ING)in 2007, and approval was received from the Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez, in 2009; and from Bishop Michael Akasius Toppo of Tezpur, (the diocese in which it is located) in June this year.

The opening ceremony was carried out by Fr Václav Klement, Councillor for the Missions, who in his address said: “Today is an historic day for the Congregation, since it re-connects to the tradition of the 12 missionary aspirantates in Europe, which have produced almost half of the 11,000 Salesian missionaries sent round the world.”

Afterwards Bishop Toppo blessed the buildings already prepared (a part is still under construction). “Today is a day of blessing for the diocese of Tezpur, because from Sirajuli bearers of the Gospel will spread out through the whole world.”

Fr Joe Almeida, the Provincial of Guwahati, also emphasised the importance of the event, adding: “After having received 400 Salesian missionaries in India, the time has come to send missionaries throughout the world and to Europe, as a sign of gratitude. Now we have vocations and a strong faith.”

After the ceremony Bishop Toppo presided at Mass accompanied by Bishop Robert Kerketta SDB, bishop emeritus of Tezpur; Fr Klement, Fr Maria Arokiam Kanaga, Regional Councillor for South Asia; Fr Almeida, and about 30 Salesians from the Provinces of the North East of India.

The festive day concluded with a joyful concert, with dancing and singing provided by the aspirants and the prenovices coming from the three main tribes in the area – Adivasi, Boro and Khasi – all in traditional costume.

Bishop Toppo spoke very movingly about the new aspirantate: “Sirajuli was an unknown place, like Nazareth, but now it becomes an epicentre of missionary animation. (…) we have sowed a small seed which will grow and become a great tree.” Fr Klement then recalled some Indian missionaries who had left during the last missionary expedition, Suresh Ekka, precisely from Sirajuli, now in Bulgaria; and Paulus Guria in Uganda.

The Sirajuli missionary aspirantate will serve the Indian Provinces of Guwahati, Dimapur, Calcutta, Mumbai and New Delhi. It is already in operation and has Fr Paul Lyngot as Rector, with 2 priests, 2 on practical training – a cleric and a Brother – 13 prenovices and 40 aspirants.

Published 25/11/2011