(ANS – Rome) – The Salesian Family in India is preparing with great joy and gratitude to welcome the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, who will undertake an animation visit to India from February 5–17, 2026. His presence among Salesians, young people, educators, past pupils, and members of the Salesian Family is eagerly awaited as a time of grace and blessing, renewing bonds of communion and fraternity and strengthening the shared mission inspired by Don Bosco.
The Rector Major’s visit will unfold across three Salesian Provinces—Kolkata, New Delhi, and Chennai—each offering a unique context for encounter, animation, and renewal. Across communities, schools, parishes, and formation houses, the visit will reaffirm the Rector Major’s role as a father and guide, walking closely with his confreres and with the young.
Province of St. John Bosco, Kolkata (February 5–8, 2026)
The visit will begin in the Province of St. John Bosco, Kolkata, where the Rector Major will arrive on February 5. His initial engagements at the Provincial House will include moments of prayer and fraternity, as well as a meeting with the Provincial Council, setting a reflective and pastoral tone for the days ahead.
During his stay, the Rector Major will visit Siliguri and Azimganj, meeting young people, educators, Salesians, and members of the Salesian Family. He will address school and college students, celebrate the Holy Eucharist with local communities, and take part in cultural programs that reflect the missionary vitality and intercultural richness of the province.
Highlighting the significance of the visit, Fr. Joseph Pauria, SDB, Provincial of Kolkata, observed:
“The visit of the Rector Major to our province, especially during this significant centenary period, is a moment of deep grace for us. His presence among our Salesians, young people, and the Salesian Family strengthens our unity and renews our missionary zeal. We see his visit as a blessing that encourages us to continue walking faithfully with the young, especially those on the peripheries, in the spirit of Don Bosco.”
The Kolkata visit will conclude on February 8 with a meeting of Salesian Family representatives and the installation of the new Provincial, Fr. Sunil Kerketta, followed by the celebration of the Eucharist and a cultural program at Don Bosco Park Circus, bringing together youth, past pupils, and well-wishers.
Province of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, New Delhi (February 9–13, 2026)
From Kolkata, the Rector Major will proceed to the Province of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, New Delhi, arriving on February 9, 2026. The visit will open with a warm welcome at the Provincial House and the celebration of the Eucharist with the Salesian Family at DBTI.
The program in the New Delhi Province places a strong emphasis on animation, formation, and mission. The Rector Major will meet with the Provincial Council, address rectors and confreres, and interact with staff, students, past pupils, and formation communities. His pastoral journey will take him to Alaknanda, SPCI House, Holy Child Auxilium School in Vasant Vihar, and to Salesian communities in Ranchi, Kokar, Gumla, and Hatia.
Reflecting on the visit, Fr. Davis Maniparamben, SDB, Provincial of New Delhi, stated:
“The Rector Major’s visit is a powerful moment of animation and encouragement for our confreres, formators, educators, and young people. As he journeys through our communities and formation centers, his presence will strengthen our commitment to communion, mission, and fidelity to the Salesian charism.”
A significant moment will be the laying of the foundation stone for a new school wing at Don Bosco Gumla, symbolizing hope and a long-term commitment to the education of young people.
Province of St. Thomas the Apostle, Chennai (February 13–17, 2026)
The final phase of the visit will take place in the Province of St. Thomas the Apostle, Chennai, from February 13–17, 2026. The Rector Major will meet with the Provincial and Council, address rectors and community leaders, and interact with young people from the Chennai and Pondicherry regions. Pastoral visits to Polur, Vellore, and Tirupattur—including formation and educational centers—will provide moments of encouragement for formators, formees, educators, and the wider Salesian Family.
The Rector Major’s participation in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Sacred Heart College, Tirupattur, will add a celebratory dimension, highlighting the enduring educational mission of the Salesians in the region.
Sharing his anticipation, Fr. Don Bosco Lourdusamy, Provincial of Chennai, remarked:
“The Province of Chennai has been eagerly awaiting and preparing for this visit of the Rector Major with prayer and joyful expectation. His presence among us is deeply cherished, and it will deepen our sense of belonging to the Congregation and renew our enthusiasm for the Salesian mission. His visit will inspire our communities, our young people, and the entire Salesian Family to carry forward the dream of Don Bosco among the most needy, especially the poorest young people.”
As the 11th Successor of Don Bosco prepares to walk among his sons in India, the Salesian Family looks forward to these days as a sacred time of encounter and renewal, reaffirming its call to be signs and bearers of God’s love to young people, especially those most in need.