(ANS – Siliguri) — The visit of Fr. Fabio Attard, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco, took on a deeply spiritual and charism-centered dimension on February 6, 2026, as he met with Salesians, student brothers, members of the Salesian Family, and the wider faith community of North Bengal during the second day of his visit to Siliguri.
In the late morning, the Rector Major met with Salesians, student brothers, and members of the Salesian Family from North Bengal, Sikkim, Bihar, and Nepal. Speaking with warmth and clarity, he invited them to renew their passion for Jesus Christ and for young people, reminding them that these two loves must never be separated in authentic Salesian life. Reflecting on the theme of the year, “Do whatever He tells you,” inspired by Mary’s words at the Wedding at Cana, he proposed a simple yet demanding spiritual path: to look attentively, listen deeply, choose freely, and act courageously. He stressed that genuine Salesian witness today requires discernment, responsibility, and concrete action rooted in love.
Addressing the Salesian Family, Fr. Attard underlined that in a multireligious and multicultural context, the most credible proclamation of the Gospel is not primarily through words but through the witness of one’s life. “People may not always listen to what we say,” he noted, “but they will always observe how we live.” He encouraged educators and pastoral agents to live the Preventive System first among themselves, recalling Don Bosco’s own insistence that fraternity, kindness, and mutual respect are foundational to mission.
In the afternoon, the Rector Major presided over the solemn Eucharistic celebration at the Don Bosco Shrine, concelebrated with Bishop Emeritus Clement Tirkey of Jalpaiguri, and joined by Salesians, members of the Salesian Family, guests, youth, and MSMHC postulants, who welcomed the concelebrants with a prayer dance.
In his homily, Fr. Attard reflected on the Gospel question, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” Drawing attention to Jesus placing a child at the center, he explained that greatness in God’s Kingdom is not about power or recognition, but about becoming “nobody” in the eyes of the world. From this Gospel image, he highlighted three essential characteristics: humility, welcoming, and appreciation.
Humility, he said, means knowing who we are and who, by God’s grace, we can become. It frees us from false expectations, keeps life simple, and creates spaces where young people feel loved and not judged. Welcoming, illustrated through Don Bosco’s encounter with Bartolomeo Garelli, is not an action but an attitude—a conscious choice to be a friend to every young person, especially those on the margins. Appreciation, he added, enables educators to see beyond mistakes, recognizing that failure does not define a person and that every young heart carries a seed of goodness waiting to emerge.
Turning to educators and pastoral agents, the Rector Major emphasized that the Gospel is not lived on conditions. “We do not welcome others because they welcome us; we welcome because we believe in it,” he said. In a digital and globalized world, he observed, young people are not impressed by titles, power, or roles, but are deeply touched by humility, genuine welcome, and the ability to recognize and nurture goodness. Such witness, he noted, already places educators “halfway” in the work of evangelization.
The Eucharistic celebration was followed by a brief felicitation program featuring youth cultural performances, reflecting the vibrancy and faith of the local Church. The day concluded with a moment of fellowship over high tea.
As the Province of Kolkata steps into its second century, Fr. Attard’s message resounded as both a call and a challenge: to build the future through humility, welcome, and authentic witness.