Fr. Jose Kuruvachira, Provincial of Dimapur, welcomed and introduced the assembly with a brief presentation on the missions of Northeast India. Fr. Januarius Sangma, Provincial of Guwahati, on the other hand, thanked everyone present for attending the meeting and for their collaboration in Christ's mission in the region. "I admire Fr. Matthew Kottaram, priest of the Diocese of Bongaigaon, for his immense work in the region, with more than 12,000 baptisms in his life as a priest in 50 years," he said.
Four Salesian bishops were present at the appointment: Archbishop Emeritus of Guwahati, Msgr. Thomas Menamparampil; Bishop Emeritus of Dibrugarh, Msgr. Joseph Aind; Msgr. George Pallipparambil, of Miao, with Auxiliary Bishop, Msgr. Dennis Panipitchai; also present: Msgr. Jose Chirackal, Auxiliary Bishop of Tura, and Msgr. Albert Hemrom, Bishop of Dibrugarh.
"These brethren have chosen to thank God for the different people, priests and religious donated, for their contribution and work, and for the growth imparted to the Church in Northeast India over the past 100 years," said the Rector Major, alluding to the meeting with bishops and missionaries as part of the Centennial celebrations. "In the style of Don Bosco, we have the opportunity to reach many young people in the region and bring them to God. Thank God we find our strength in their youth and Don Bosco's friendly style. If we lose our approach to the poor, we risk losing our charism," added Fr. Á.F. Artime.
He also thanked and continuously congratulated the bishops, priests, and religious for their contributions over the past century. "It is a moment of great joy, but also a call to greater fidelity," the Rector Major said.
After the speech of the 10th Successor of Don Bosco, there was a moment of sharing, interaction, and discussion. Responding to a question from Jesuit Fr. Richard Jarain, the Rector Major spoke about the vocational challenges that run through the entire Church; afterward, Fr. Joseph Pauria, Provincial of Calcutta (INC) and former student of Bishop Louis Mathias SDB, the leader of the first Salesian missionaries in the northeastern Indian state of Assam, wanted to remind everyone that even in the future "the mission of Christ will be carried out by all, together, and not by one group or congregation alone."
Msgr. Chirackal thanked and congratulated the Rector Major for the contribution of the Salesians to the growth and development of the population of the diocese, and honored the Rector Major with a traditional garo-style shawl.
Msgr. Menamparampil SDB, in his speech, emphasized statements on the changing demographics of the population, life trends, and the quality and quantity of vocations. "Tribal communities, with their human simplicity, can have a chance for revival and renaissance of spirituality and faith in every part of the world; currently their situation may be that of helpless people, but things can change," the prelate explained.
Msgr. Aind, SDB, shared that after the Holy Father accepted his resignation, due to age, from the government of the Diocese of Dibrugarh, he lives in a monastic community and spends his time in prayer for the growth and prosperity of the Church and the people of the region.
Msgr. Pallipparambil, SDB, presented the positive exception of Northeast India regarding the number of Christians in the region: while they are mostly a small minority in the rest of India and Asia, in the Northeast it is possible to find a sizeable Christian population.
Asked again about the issue of vocations, the Rector Major responded by reiterating, "We must not feel sorry for ourselves, but we must wake up and look sincerely at the situation we are facing."
Indeed, if traditional aspirants no longer bring vocations as they did in the past, it becomes necessary to sincerely present the challenging but fulfilling nature of vocations in the many works serving young people and to accompany young people in discernment. "Ninety-three percent of the young people who join us in Europe are persevering," added Fr. Á.F. Artime. Thus, we can see a trend of change, but in which new solutions can be found.
The morning ended with a moment of felicitations by the Rector Major to the various missionaries present.
https://www.infoans.org/en/component/k2/item/16508-india-rector-major-meets-with-bishops-and-veteran-missionaries-from-northeast#sigProIdd74cb0a2e0
