Conference of Religious India has greeted Salesian bishops, including those from India, meeting with Rector Major Father Pascual Chávez Villanueva, and the members of his Council in Turin.

The May 21-25 meeting at the Salesian Mother House, is taking place within a series of anniversaries and other events.

After the 26 General Chapter held in 2008 the Salesian Congregation is studying and developing its fidelity to the charism of its founder and re-launching its apostolic endeavours.

“The Salesians have been a dynamic presence in India,” CRI national secretary Brother Mani Mekkunnel said noting that some 10 Indian salesians are bishops.

“The Salesian Bishops should be able to provide inspiring leadership to the Indian hierarchy,” Brother Mani said while congratulating the bishops for their dedicated service.

The meeting is linked with jubilees in the congregation such as the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Congregation (1859-2009), the centenary of the death of the first successor of Don Bosco, Blessed Michael Rua, (1910-2010) and the preparations for the bi-centenary of the birth on Don Bosco in 2015.

In particular, the meeting of the Salesian Bishops follows the 125th anniversary of the consecration of Bishop Giovanni Cagliero (7 December 1884), the first Salesian Bishop and Cardinal.

It is also taking place in the context of events in the life of the Church and of the Salesian world in these days: the Feast of Mary Help of Christians which is traditionally a very special occasion in Valdocco and Turin, and the conclusion of the display of the Holy Shroud and also a meeting of the Salesian novices in Europe.

Of the 119 Salesian bishops in the world, five are cardinals. Organizers said 93 bishops including four cardinals have confirmed that they will be present. The meeting will discuss the “Salesian Charism and the Episcopal Ministry.”

In the last 104 years of Salesian presence in India, 22 Salesians served the Indian church hierarchy. Eight of them were archbishops. Archbishop Eugene Mederlet of Madras was the first Salesian bishop in India (1928-1934) while Bishop Paul Mariaselvam of Vellore (1953-54) was the first Indian Salesian to become a bishop. The first five of them were missionaries from abroad while the remaining 17 are native sons of the Church.

Currently there are 10 Salesian prelates in India– five in the northeast India, three in Tamil Nadu and two in West Bengal. Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Guwahati, Archbishop Dominic Jala of Shillong, Retired Bishop Robert Kerketta of Tezpur, Bishop Joseph Aind of Dibrugarh and Bishop George Paliparambil of Miao serve  northeast India.

While Archbishop Lucas Sirkar of Kolkata and Bishop Joseph Gomes of Krishnagar serve the CHurch in West Bengal, Archbishop Chinnappa of Madras-Mylapore, Bishop Soundaraj of Vellore and Bishop Joseph Antony of Dharmapuri serve Tamil Nadu Church.

Source: CRI

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