austraLasia #3478
Fruit and testimony of Faith
SIRAJULI (Northeast India): July 29, 2014 -- Here is another angle to yesterday's topic. We have some 100 or so recipients of austraLasia in our neighbouring region of South Asia. One of them, a young Salesian working at the Salesian Missionary Aspirantate in Northeast India, Bro. Arlius Sangmar by name, would like to add a perspective from the Adviso, Boro and Khasi tribal areas, the chief source of candidates for the Hubert D'Rosario Institute, Sirajuli, an aspirantate that opened in Northeast India in the region extensively evangelised by the Salesians. There is a second such aspirantate at Perambur, Chennai Province.
You could also watch the 25 minute video produced by Art.43 (Poland). Art. 43 is an interesting scene in itself - a group of professional young Salesians fully dedicated to Communications and film making. They show the connection between Ivrea, the first Salesian missionary aspirantate, and these new ventures at Sirajuli and Perambur.
You may benefit from downloading the video unless your streaming possibilities are excellent. The video is important if you want to hear the real 'fruit and testimony of faith': Faith received giving rise to the desire to proclaim that Faith elsewhere.
Like all major human enterprises inspired by God, the Missionary Aspirantate dedicated to Archbishop Hubert D’Rosario SDB at Sirajuli, Assam, has had a very humble beginning. This was initiated as a response to the clarion call for missionaries from India by the then Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva. Such a ‘call’, during the auspicious occasion of the centenary of Salesian India (1906-2006) had far-reaching reverberations. The Rector Major encouraged the establishment of two Missionary Aspirantates for India.
On April 7, 2009, the Rector Major authorized the establishment of the Aspirantate at Sirajuli attached to a school. On April 15, 2009, Bishop Michael Akasius Toppo, the Bishop of Tezpur, blessed and laid the Foundation Stone of the Institute. On November 10, 2011, Fr Pascual Chavez blessed the plaque dedicating it to St John Bosco and on November 122, 2011, the Institute was solemnly inaugurated by Fr Václav Klement, the General Councillor for Missions at the time.
Since its inception, the Institute has been training young men desirous of opting for missio ad gentes. The missionary Institute is to serve the Northern Provinces of Panjim, Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Dimapur, Silchar and Guwahati. Fr Paul Lyngkot was the pioneering Rector, settling the house with the help of the first batch of 13 pre-novices. Presently, there are 75 boys in four classes: Pre-novices, Class XII, Class XI and the Preparatory Course who have just joined the community after the Vocation Camp.
The formation community is serious about its formation programmes: there are regular classes, conferences, lectio divina, sodalities and other group activities. ‘Personal responsibility’ in the process of formation is strongly emphasized. Times for personal reflection, sharing, of a “decisive walk with the Lord” mark the life of the community. Coming as they are from different socio-cultural and linguistic backgrounds, the “live-in experience” in the community has enormous effect. The constant inspiration of the community is the gallery of Salesian Missionaries which dots the corridors of this nascent Missionary Institute. In gist, it is a formative growth in the various facets of life: human, Christian, intellectual, moral, spiritual, etc. From an intellectual point of view, the aspirants complete the two-year Higher Secondary course during this formative period.
The arrival of Fr Joseph Almeida SDB as the second Rector has given a fresh lease of life to the community. His personal charisma, his attachment to the Congregation and the Church, coupled with his love for local vocations continues to guide the community towards its missionary goal. The formation team of three priests, a Salesian brother and three clerics creates a conducive atmosphere for formation of these young men. Formation thus truly becomes accompaniment!
The strategic location of the National Highway 52 from Guwahati to Tezpur is another added boon. Guwahati, the provincial headquarters is about 125 kms away while the diocesan headquarters at Tezpur is just about 45 kms. The occasional visits of ecclesiastical superiors, priests and religious, laity, friends and well-wishers are great opportunities of vocational growth.
It is expected that 2015 will see the first batch of missionaries from Sirajuli joining the Annual Missionary Expedition sent out from the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin.
Fruit and testimony of Faith
You could also watch the 25 minute video produced by Art.43 (Poland). Art. 43 is an interesting scene in itself - a group of professional young Salesians fully dedicated to Communications and film making. They show the connection between Ivrea, the first Salesian missionary aspirantate, and these new ventures at Sirajuli and Perambur.
You may benefit from downloading the video unless your streaming possibilities are excellent. The video is important if you want to hear the real 'fruit and testimony of faith': Faith received giving rise to the desire to proclaim that Faith elsewhere.
Like all major human enterprises inspired by God, the Missionary Aspirantate dedicated to Archbishop Hubert D’Rosario SDB at Sirajuli, Assam, has had a very humble beginning. This was initiated as a response to the clarion call for missionaries from India by the then Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva. Such a ‘call’, during the auspicious occasion of the centenary of Salesian India (1906-2006) had far-reaching reverberations. The Rector Major encouraged the establishment of two Missionary Aspirantates for India.
On April 7, 2009, the Rector Major authorized the establishment of the Aspirantate at Sirajuli attached to a school. On April 15, 2009, Bishop Michael Akasius Toppo, the Bishop of Tezpur, blessed and laid the Foundation Stone of the Institute. On November 10, 2011, Fr Pascual Chavez blessed the plaque dedicating it to St John Bosco and on November 122, 2011, the Institute was solemnly inaugurated by Fr Václav Klement, the General Councillor for Missions at the time.
Since its inception, the Institute has been training young men desirous of opting for missio ad gentes. The missionary Institute is to serve the Northern Provinces of Panjim, Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Dimapur, Silchar and Guwahati. Fr Paul Lyngkot was the pioneering Rector, settling the house with the help of the first batch of 13 pre-novices. Presently, there are 75 boys in four classes: Pre-novices, Class XII, Class XI and the Preparatory Course who have just joined the community after the Vocation Camp.
The formation community is serious about its formation programmes: there are regular classes, conferences, lectio divina, sodalities and other group activities. ‘Personal responsibility’ in the process of formation is strongly emphasized. Times for personal reflection, sharing, of a “decisive walk with the Lord” mark the life of the community. Coming as they are from different socio-cultural and linguistic backgrounds, the “live-in experience” in the community has enormous effect. The constant inspiration of the community is the gallery of Salesian Missionaries which dots the corridors of this nascent Missionary Institute. In gist, it is a formative growth in the various facets of life: human, Christian, intellectual, moral, spiritual, etc. From an intellectual point of view, the aspirants complete the two-year Higher Secondary course during this formative period.
The arrival of Fr Joseph Almeida SDB as the second Rector has given a fresh lease of life to the community. His personal charisma, his attachment to the Congregation and the Church, coupled with his love for local vocations continues to guide the community towards its missionary goal. The formation team of three priests, a Salesian brother and three clerics creates a conducive atmosphere for formation of these young men. Formation thus truly becomes accompaniment!
The strategic location of the National Highway 52 from Guwahati to Tezpur is another added boon. Guwahati, the provincial headquarters is about 125 kms away while the diocesan headquarters at Tezpur is just about 45 kms. The occasional visits of ecclesiastical superiors, priests and religious, laity, friends and well-wishers are great opportunities of vocational growth.
It is expected that 2015 will see the first batch of missionaries from Sirajuli joining the Annual Missionary Expedition sent out from the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Turin.
