Don Bosco International Director arrives at Dmr

 

Dimapur, November 4 (MExN): The International Director of Don Bosco Society, Fr. Pascual Chavez, arrived today at Dimapur on a three-day visit to the Province of Dimapur. His visit will end on November 6. He was received at the airport by Fr. James Poonthuruthil, Provincial of Dimapur, Fr. Nestor Guria, Vice Provincial, several Fathers, Sisters, cooperators and Don Bosco Alumni, informed a press note from Tarcisius Toppo, director of Bosco Communications, Dimapur.
Fr. Pascual Chavez was accorded a grand and traditional reception at Don Bosco Provincial House, Dimapur. It is the first time that an International Director has visited Dimapur, the headquarters of the Region, which comprises the states of Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Upper Assam, stated the press note. Earlier, Fr. Chavez had visited Dibrugarh in 2005.
“This is his first visit to the North East India, after his re-election during the Apex Body Meeting of the Society held in 2008,” said Fr. James, in his welcome speech. He also gave a brief description of Dimapur and its history and described the North East as an “Asia in miniature” with many rich and varied cultures, languages and tribes.
Accompanying the International Director are Fr. Maria Arokiam Kanaga, Regional Councillor of South Asia, Fr. Juan Jose Bartholomeo, Personal Secretary to the International Director, and Fr. Michael Peedikayil, Salesian Provincial of New Delhi. During his three-day stay, Fr. Chavez will meet all the Don Bosco Fathers and Brothers working in the various Don Bosco Institutions of the Region, Sisters, Cooperators, Don Bosco alumni and other collaborators, and interact with them. His stay in Dimapur will give him a first-hand experience of India’s rich diversity and plurality which is nowhere manifest other than in the North East, which has more than 18 million tribals, the largest tribal majority in India. He will also review the work for the marginalised youth of the region and give appropriate guidance, which is certain to have much impact in the region in the future, it stated.
Fr. Chavez is en route to Guwahati to take part in the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Province which will be held on November 7 and 8 at Shillong. He will also take in the Platinum Jubilee of St. Anthony’s College, Shillong, one the Premier Don Bosco Institutes in the North East.
The International Director of Don Bosco Society will also lay the foundation stone of Don Bosco University, at Sonapur in Guwahati, on November 10. This University will be the first of its kind in Salesian India as well as the first private university
in Assam.