In his inaugural address, Fr. Biju Michael, Regional South Asia, welcomed chief Resource Person Fr. Garino Guido, Secretary General of the Congregation, and all the participants. He emphasized the importance of 'Communion' and 'Content,' stating the need to create one mind and one heart; it is about the Congregation, the Charism, and Mission that we have received from Don Bosco to each of us, to be signs and bearers of the love of God for the young. He drew insights from Margaret Silf's book, “Hidden Wings: Emerging from Troubled Times with New Hope and Deeper Wisdom,” speaking about 'Metamorphosis' and the 'MORE' that happens in the process, sighting the example of a butterfly's birth.
Fr. Garino Guido was the chief trainer and conducted sessions on the first and fourth day. He led the conference with insightful discussions on the Maintenance of Province Office, Compliances as per the Code of Canon Law, Civil Law, and Constitutions and Regulations of the Congregation. He also spent time clarifying the queries and doubts raised by the Province Secretaries.
On the second day, Mr. Thomas Philip, CEO and Founder of Eliot Innovations, animated the group with a session on "Transforming Office Practices: Integrating AI Technology for Secretarial Excellence." The sessions were highly valued and appreciated by all participants.
The third day included an outing to the Taj Mahal in Agra, one of the wonders of the world.
The Chief Convenor of the Meeting was Fr. Biju Michael, General Councillor for South Asia, supported by Fr. John Parankimalil, the SPCSA Secretary, and Fr. Vincent Kunnathettu, the Personal Secretary to the Regional Superior, South Asia. The SPCSA network heads also participated and shared their work with the Province Secretaries.
Fr. Davis Maniparamben, Provincial of Delhi, celebrated Holy Mass for the participants on August 25 and expressed gratitude for the commendable and sacrificing work of all the secretaries for the Provinces of South Asia.
Dinners on August 22 and 25 were hosted at Don Bosco School, Alaknanda, and Don Bosco Provincial House, Okhla, respectively. The Rector and community of the SPCSA house left no stone unturned to make the experience wonderful for all participants.
In his closing remarks, Fr. Garino Guido thanked everyone for participating in the meeting, inviting him to India, and for the wonderful hospitality he experienced. Fr. Biju Michael, in his vote of thanks, expressed gratitude to Fr. Garino Guido, the SPCSA secretariat, all the participating secretaries, and the Rector and Community of SPCSA House. He emphasized that the meeting's purpose was to build communion, learn new skills supported by AI, acknowledge the great work of the secretaries, and create personal connections among all the secretaries.
Participants expressed satisfaction that the meeting met all their expectations and expressed a desire for more frequent meetings. The conference was hailed as a huge success, fostering a sense of community, sharing valuable insights, and strengthening the administrative and legal foundations of the SPCSA region.
