Siliguri, India – March 2025 – On March 19, Salesian priest Fr. Peter Lourdes, the first Indian-born Principal of the Salesian Institute of Sonada, celebrated his 100th birthday at the Provincial House in Kolkata. Fr. Lourdes served as the ninth Principal of the Institute from 1967 to 1970. Notably, he was the first Indian citizen to lead the institution, founded in 1938, which until the late 1960s primarily housed residential Salesian students from Commonwealth countries. Having even survived COVID-19, Fr. Lourdes has dedicated 82 years of his life as a Salesian religious and 72 years as a priest. His academic journey began in 1937 as a first-grade student at Don Bosco School in Liluah, Kolkata. Later, in 1941, he joined the Salesian Institute of Sonada as a ninth-grade student. Fr. Lourdes has humbly shared his academic struggles, recalling how he once scored 0% in Mathematics but achieved first division in Latin during his exams. However, through dedicated self-study, he retook and successfully passed his exams. His academic pursuits led him to earn a degree from the Salesian Institute of Sonada, a Master’s in Clinical Psychology from the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome, and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from DePaul University in Chicago, USA. Over the years, he has conducted numerous psycho-spiritual seminars and retreats and authored four books. Even today, he advises students to "attend classes and keep their notes handy." Fr. Lourdes’ remarkable life and achievements continue to inspire many, and his legacy remains a guiding light for all who have had the privilege of knowing him.