By Father Bivan R. Mukhim
Bishop Paul Mattekkatt while addressing the gathering said "For me it is a dream comes true when the Catholic Church is able to provide an institution like this to hundreds of our students who have passed out from our numerous schools. We are able to give education to the students at an affordable cost in their own ambience and their own locality." The bishop deeply appreciate and acknowledge the singular initiative made by the Salesians of Don Bosco, Guwahati province under leadership of Father VM Thomas, Provincial and his team in establishing the college.
Prof. Dhrubajyoti Saikia in his address said, "I paid tributes to Fr. VM Thomas and the Salesians who have actually quietly, passionately and energetically helped transform the lives of so many following the footsteps of St. John Bosco in the Northeast part of the country. I have only words of appreciation and admiration to the work that have been done not only in the cities but to the remotest corners of the state," he said.
Father Cyriac Vettickathadam, Director, welcomed the guests. He said that the college at Diphu was a Bicentenary gift of Don Bosco's birth to the people of Karbi Anglong. "Dreams remain just dreams unless there are visionaries who covert them into reality," Father Cyriac said. He thanked Bishop Paul Mattekkatt, the Bishop of Diphu and Father VM Thomas, Provincial. "We are extremely grateful to the Bishop for inviting the Salesians of Don Bosco to start the college and generously donating a huge a plot of land. Had it not been for the generosity of the Bishop and the clergy of the diocese, we would still be wandering like the Israelites, looking for a place to settle," Father Cyriac added.
Words of gratitude were also expressed to Father VM Thomas who directed and helped in the construction of the new college. Ms. Sunita Bhuyan, reputed violinist enthralled those present with musical extravaganza on the theme “Joy of Living.”
“Congratulations to the provincial, confreres working in Diphu and to the diocese for this wonderful GIFT to the people of the region” said from Rome Fr Maria Arokiam Kanaga, Regional Councillor for South Asia.
