Presiding over the Holy Eucharist that followed, Bishop Lumen, quoting the Rector Major, Ángel Fernández Artime, reminded the Salesians of the predilection they have for young people who are poor and most in need of help.
The day was also the 20th anniversary of Bishop Lumen’s Episcopal ordination and the birth of the Diocese of Agartala. On behalf of everyone present, particularly the Salesians, Father Maliekal thanked and felicitated Bishop Lumen on the occasion.
The undivided Salesian province of Guwahati had in 2007 decided to have the Pre-Novitiate phase of formation of its formees in Tripura, and for the past nine years, the one-year Pre-Novitiate course was held on a temporary basis at Mariamnagar Parish in Agartala which became also the first formation house of the Salesians in the state.
The idyllic settings of Herma and the numerous tribal villages that dot the area, it is hoped, will provide an even better ambiance for the formation of the pre-Novices.
Father Maliekal thanked everyone who contributed to Bosco Home in various ways - the communities of the province for the solidarity they showed through financial contribution, the benefactors, and individuals who worked hard to make Bosco Home a reality, among them Father KK Joseph and Father Thomas Pampadyil particularly.
The Provincial pointed out that Bosco Home has a triple role to fulfil: that of a formation house, an educative community and an evangelizing community.
