The Konkan region was earlier raised to the level of a delegation by Rev. Fr. Juan Vecchi on the 24th July 1999. This direction was taken when the Mumbai Provincial Chapter of March 1995 gave a clear directive for a thrust in the Konkan region, especially North and South Kanara offering plenty of scope for Mission work.  The Konkan region involves:

MANGALORE DIOCESE: In 1997, Rt. Rev. Aloysius D’Souza, the present Bishop of Mangalore invited the Bombay Salesians to begin a non-formal Technical School for drop-outs of the Mangalore diocese and last year to take over the parish of St. John Bosco Parish at Kelmbet, a very remote area.

BELGAUM DIOCESE: In 1983, Rt. Rev. Ignatius Lobo, former Bishop of Belgaum had invited the Bombay Provincial to take up St. Mary’s High School at Hubli. Later, the Bishop offered a 10 acre plot of land at Suttgatti, (mid-way between Hubli and Dharwar). In 1988, the Salesians constructed the new school there for dropouts. Presently there is a community of 5 confreres running a non-formal Technical school, a National Open School (NOS) and boarding. The Salesian sisters too collaborate in the School and run a girls boarding. Mission and development projects are also started in Sankeshwar and Kakti area.

KARWAR DIOCESE: In 1976, the new diocese of Karwar was  carved out of the Belgaum diocese. Rt. Rev. William D’Mello has handed to the Salesians the School and the new parish of St. John Bosco at Sirsi.

With these ventures, the Konkan Vice-Province now comprises the state of Goa, with 4 Districts in Maharashtra and 5 districts in Kamataka, covering an area crossing 75,000 sq. kms.

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