Circular # 3
MARCH 2015
My dear Confreres,
Our Ministry in the field of Technical
and Vocational Education
Greetings and love from Don Bosco Provincial House, Hyderabad! I am sending this circular from
Hyderabad at the end of the SPCSA Council meeting.
Don Bosco was a true pioneer of technical and vocational education. In 1853 he started a
“workshop” in the backyard of his Oratory where he personally began to train a small number of
unemployed youth and school dropouts in certain simple skills. In doing so, he was pioneering the
concept of “Trade Schools” in Italy. In those days, formal technical institutes were unknown; one
learned a trade merely by apprenticing oneself to someone who was already skilled in a particular
trade.
As his workshops began to attract more and more youngsters, Don Bosco started expanding his
school of trade — he started with tailoring and shoemaking in 1853, added bookbinding in 1854,
carpentry in 1856, printing in 1861, and a workshop for blacksmiths in 1862. In 1861 after setting
up his first school of printing, he told one of his helpers, “Just wait, we start with one; then we’ll
have two, ten and even a hundred….” In 1878, two agricultural schools were opened – one for boys
and another for girls. Without doubt, technical and vocational training has been a high priority area
of the Salesian mission in the world. We could very well say that a passion for technical education is
deeply ingrained in the Salesian DNA.
It was in the 4th General Chapter of1886 that Don Bosco laid down the threefold basic goals of
Salesian technical education: 1) to have the young learn a trade so they can honestly earn the
bread they need to live on; 2) to have them instructed in religion; and 3) to provide them with the
knowledge required by and suited to their state, in other words, professional competence. Within
his own institutes, Don Bosco always wanted an annual exhibition, displaying the specimens
produced by the pupils. To this effect the same General Chapter laid it down: “In every professional
institute there should be held an annual exhibition of works executed by the pupils, and every
three years, there should be a common exhibition in which all our trade schools will take part.”
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The Salesian tradition of technical education in India
Salesians have created an excellent tradition of technical education in India. Archbishop Louis
Mathias considered technical education the most distinctive Salesian contribution to India. Right
from the start, the Salesians launched out into the field. In fact, the very first initiative they
launched in Thanjavur, soon after their arrival in 1906, was an Industrial School, which was quite a
novelty in those days. It began in a small way with just two trades -- weaving and carpentry.
Printing was added in 1924.
In true Salesian style, in the first year itself, they held an Industrial Exhibition, which immediately
became the top attraction in the town. The exhibits – all produced by the students themselves –
consisted of a variety of articles of furniture and clothing, drawing and painting. Thereafter, the
exhibition became an annual feature which the townspeople looked forward to with great
expectation. The school also made it a point to participate in industrial exhibitions in various parts
of the country, and always came away with prizes and trophies.
Sir K. V. Reddy, minister for development, Government of Madras, wrote at the end of his visit to
our technical institute in Tanjore in 1920: “The more I see, the more I feel convinced that these
should form the nucleus of our scheme of Industrial and Technical education in this country. These
missionaries have placed us under a deep debt of obligation.”
In an All-India Exhibition held in Patna (Bihar) in 1921, the weaving students of Tanjore won three
medals of merit with the highest distinction in ordinary pattern exhibits. In 1921, The Madras Mail,
a leading newspaper of the day, adjudged the Salesian industrial school of Tanjore as ‘one of the
best in the Madras Presidency and hence in the whole of India’.
In 1921, after a visit to the School, the Governor of Madras Presidency wrote thus: “The Salesian
Mission does its best in every way possible to impart to Indian youth an education proper to the
vocation of each one. An education imparted according to individual inclination and vocation is of
utmost importance in the formation of young India. It is necessary to make young people grow up
with the idea not so much of becoming government employees, advocates or secretaries as of
taking up a trade that will render them all really useful and productive citizens.”
When the Salesians started their work in North-East India in 1922, their first venture was again a
technical institute (Don Bosco, Shillong). At the beginning of 1923 when the Director of Public
Instruction visited the Don Bosco Technical School in Shillong, he was genuinely amazed. He asked
the Minister of Education to go and see the school. The minister came and was loud in his praise
and hopes. The next day he wrote to Mgr. Mathias: “I had not the slightest idea that you had such a
variety of works going. I hope that in a short time, your young and versatile Salesians will make
their presence felt all over Assam and to the benefit of the region. I wish you every success in your
work….”
It was in 1930 that Don Bosco Technical School in Shillong held its first public exhibition of works
done by the pupils. The Governor, his wife, and other dignitaries visited the exhibition and
expressed their pleasure. None of these people had ever thought that boys could be brought up to
such a high standard of working skill. As a matter of fact, the governor’s wife wanted to return the
next day to the school and find out for herself whether or not the pupils really were capable of
such workmanship. She came and got her proof as she moved from department to department.
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In 1932, the editor of a Calcutta newspaper paid a visit to the Technical School in Shillong and then
wrote that he was really taken up with the sound principles on which the vocational school was
run, adding, “Nothing more than ten years ago, the people of Assam had not even heard of arts
and crafts.”
In November 1950, the Governor of Assam, Shri Jairamdas Doulatram, who opened the Industrial
Exhibition at Don Bosco, Shillong, had this to say: “Now I understand how a boy can be taken from
the streets or from the jungle and transformed into an active young man, useful to himself and to
society. The educative method of Don Bosco does these marvels. My dear boys, your Rector told
me that you are 250 in the boarding. But now I tell you that from today onwards you will be 251,
because I too want to remain here with you, to receive the benefit of the education of Don Bosco.”
Later, the governor asked for a life of Don Bosco, and after glancing through it, he said: “India
needs a man like him”.
Today’s Changing Scenario
In today’s global economy, skills and knowledge are the driving forces of economic growth and
social development for any country. Statistically 49.9% of India’s population would be below 29
years in 2021, leading to the possibility of 650 million people being in the employable age of 15–59
years.
The labour market in India is undergoing dynamic changes. It is expected that over the next 15
years, 365 million people will be eligible to join the workforce. However, today a mere 2% of the
Indian workers are formally skilled. In-service training is received by only 15% of workers in the
manufacturing sector. According to the Govt of India, a large bulk of the labour force in India (93%)
works in the unorganized sector, without any formal training. Studies also show that school
dropout rate is still very high, up to 56.8% (2008 figures), and the turnout at the vocational training
institutes is also very low.
Against this background, fortunately, skill development has now become a key policy issue with the
central and state governments, by instituting the National Skill Development Corporations (NSDC).
DB Tech India is a partner in NSDC and currently targeting skilling 20 million by 2020 across India.
DB Tech Chennai targets a segment that typically include rural youth, women, school drop-outs,
10th & 12th pass-outs, unemployed graduates, students from economically backward states, low
income groups (especially youth who are Below Poverty Line), those with special needs, tribals, and
other socio-economically disadvantaged sections of the society.
The quality of a technical institute is judged only in terms of its employability of the students
coming out of it. To create and to facilitate employability opportunities our Province is organizing a
“Technical Expo and Job Fair” for all our students in technical institutes. This event is also a
significant part of the bicentenary celebrations of the birth of Don Bosco, who was a pioneer in
technical training. This event is conducted solely for the Salesian technical institutes of both
Chennai and Trichy provinces. The Technical Expo and Job Fair will take place in the campus of SIGA
on Saturday 14th March 2015. All the final year students will take part in the Job Fair while the
other students will participate in the exhibition. We expect around 1000 students and 200 past
pupils and some 300 from Trichy province. We also intend to bring 30 clients from industry in and
around Chennai.
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The Job Fair will take place at DBCAD centre and the Technical Expo will take place in the Rinaldi
Hall. This event will also show case to the government of Tamilnadu the contribution of Don Bosco
in the field of skill training.
Salesian value of Technical Education
Don Bosco had a great esteem for work. He once wrote: “Let everyone know that man is born to
work, and that only he who persists with love and constancy will be able to bear the fatigue of
learning a trade and of eventually using it to earn his daily bread.” These words contain a
meaningful synthesis of life and education, as Don Bosco visualized them.
When Don Bosco started his technical schools, many told him that in order to have them
recognized, they should have a qualified person, and that he was a priest and not a printer, and
therefore he should appoint a qualified person who would have the responsibility for the new
venture, he replied firmly, “No. I will indeed have a qualified person, but since I intend to give
origin to this new type of activity (i.e., technical education), in the spirit of my mission, I cannot and
do not wish to renounce the direction, even official and legal, of the new initiatives I am
beginning.”
Don Bosco would often repeat, “It is necessary to be well-instructed for taking up work.” If we do
not promote initiatives according to the Salesian standards, fostering right from the first years, the
intellectual, religious and cultural formation of our students, they would be entering the world of
work entirely handicapped. Salesian professional schools, to be in the vanguard, will be furnished
with up-to-date equipment, but it must be on the understanding that such schools are not merely
wonderful workshops, but true “training grounds of conscience and character”. Along with skills
and technology, our technical institutions are also committed to give the students an all-round
formation to help them enter the world of work with confidence and competence. We believe that
the values of Don Bosco’s educational system are as important and necessary for the world of work
as they are for society in general. We aim at making the young person not only self-reliant, but also
self-restrained and selfless, with a vision of the world and everything it as God’s gift to be shared
and used with respect. May our technical institutes always remain the concrete expression of our
commitment to give the best to those who have received the least in life, the poor and the
marginalized youngsters.
NEWS FROM THE PROVINCE
1. Congratulations! New Bishop of Kuzhithurai Ordained
The Episcopal Ordination of our dear confrere, the Most Rev. Jeromedhas Varuvel SDB, the first
bishop of the newly erected diocese of Kuzhithurai, took place on 24th February 2015, at the
Chitharancode Trinity School campus, near Tuckalay in Kanyakumari District. The 4-hour long
solemn ceremony was presided over by the Most Rev. Dr. Peter Remigius, Bishop of Kottar, and
assisted by Archbishop George Antonysamy of Madras-Mylapore and Archbishop Anyony
Papusamy of Madurai, in the presence of more than 20 Bishops, and some 500 Priests who
concelebrated the Eucharistic celebration, and hundreds of Religious Sisters, Brothers, and special
guests. There were more than 100,000 lay faithful who came to pray for the new Bishop and the
diocese and be part of the historic celebration. A good number of Salesians from Chennai and
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Tiruchy provinces were also present. Let us continue to accompany Bp. Jeromedhas with our
ardent prayers, that he may shepherd his flock in imitation of the Divine Shepherd.
2. Diaconate Ordination 2015
This year fourteen students of theology studying at Don Bosco Theological College, Kavarapettai,
will be ordained deacons on 18th March 2015, at Don Bosco Shrine, Ayanavaram. His Grace, Most
Rev. Dr. George Antonysamy, Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore, has consented to preside over the
ceremony which will begin at 5.30 p.m. Five of these confreres are of our province while six are of
of Tiruchy, two of Hyderabad and one of the Middle East province (MOR). We have two other
clerics doing their studies at Kristu Jyoti College, Bangalore, who will be receiving the Order of
Dicaonate at St. Antony's Church, T.C.Palaya, Bangalore on 19th March, at 7.30 am, by His Grace,
Most Rev. Bernard Mores, Archbishop of Bangalore. We congratulate them and assure them of our
fervent prayers as they enter this most important phase of their journey towards priesthood. After
their diaconate ordination, our deacons will be placed in the following communities for their
diaconate ministry.
Cl. Lawrence Nelapatti
Cl. Bharath Chinnappan
Cl. Sankar John
Cl. Singarayar Bharathi
Cl. Sathinathan Thomas
Cl. Antonysamy Emmanuel
Cl. Arulappan Felix
- Mary Help of Christians Church, Thirukazhukundram
- Perambur, Lourdes Shrine
- Vyasarpadi
- Maranodai
- Thennangudi
- Polur, Sacred Heart parish
- Tirupattur, MHC Parish
We congratulate them and wish them a fruitful pastoral summer ministry in the parishes assigned
to them. I take this occasion to thank Fr. Jeyaraj Joseph, the Rector, and all the other members of
the staff of Becchi Don Bosco, Kavarapettai, and Fr. Jose Kuttianimattathil, the Rector, and the
other staff members of KJC, for following up the formation of these students with so much
dedication, love, care and commitment. God bless them!
3. Application to Perpetual Profession, Renewals and First Profession
The Rectors/Leaders of the communities and the novice master are requested to receive the
applications for the First Profession, Renewal of Vows and Perpetual Profession on 19 March 2015,
and send the papers to the Provincial Office on or before 25 March 2015 with the house council’s
opinion in the prescribed form. Kindly send two admission forms along with the application for
those making the Perpetual Profession. Kindly use the digital form supplied by the Province
Secretary. May I remind the leaders of the communities to accompany our young Salesians to
make a proper discernment before submitting their applications. Let us all accompany them with
our prayers as they prepare to offer themselves generously to serve in the vineyard of the Lord.
The Province Secretary will send you digital versions of the Admission Forms with the necessary
instructions.
4. Silver Jubilee of St. Joseph’s School, Pavunjur
St. Joseph’s Hr. Sec. School, Pavunjur, concluded its Silver Jubilee celebrations on 21st February
2015. The Most Rev. Dr. Neethinathan DD, Bishop of Chenglepet, presided over the Annual Day
cum Jubilee Celebrations. In his presidential address, he appreciated the Salesians for the
contribution made towards the progress of the mission especially development of the school and
the quality of the education, using Don Bosco’s Method of Education. We wish God’s choicest
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blessings upon the Salesian community, the school community and parents of this growing
institution. We offer a special word of appreciation to all the Headmasters of the past and
especially Fr. Thomas Mariaraj, the present Headmaster and Correspondent and Fr. Michael
Thomas, for all the initiatives and activities in the jubilee year. With grateful hearts, we remember
and thank all those Salesians and benefactors who built up this wonderful institution.
5. Bicentenary Youth Fest-2015
The Mega Bicentenary Youth Fest 2015 - a special celebration of the young was organized on 22 nd
February 2015 at The Refuge, Broadway, Chennai. Fr. Bellarmine Fernando, Rector of St. Mary’s CoCathedral, welcomed the youth and declared open the youth fest and also flagged off the peace
march. Around 1200 youth from our parishes, youth centres and oratories participated in the peace
march, highlighting the importance of peace, brotherhood and different Salesain activities in India.
The peace march started at St. Mary’s Co-cathedral and concluded at Our Lady of Refuge,
Broadway. Various cultural competitions were conducted on the theme: “Young People – Pillars of
Social Change.”
On this occasion, I had the joy of releasing “Don Bosco Murasu”, a magazine by the young and for
the young, the brainchild of Fr. Jefferson, the Province Youth Director; the first copy of DB Murasu
was received by Fr. Deva Joe. On this day was also launched DBWAVZ, an internet radio
programme prepared by DBICA. Fr. Harris Pakkam, Director of DBICA, introduced the dynamics of
this venture. This project was inaugurated by Fr. Deva Joe, the Vice Provincial. In the Bicentenary
year, it was a fitting initiative for the young people by Fr. Jefferson Suresh, Province Youth Director
in collaboration with DBICA, Deepagam, Arumbu Publications, Salesians and lay people. To a large
extent, the entire event was planned and executed by the Youth Leaders. The young participants
cherished the whole event and enjoyed being part of this Bicentenary event.
6. Youth Pasch 2015
Province Youth Services along with Deepagam and will organize the Youth Pasch at DBYAC, Ennore.
It will begin on 1st April Wednesday by 5.00 pm and end on 4th April with an Easter Vigil Mass. We
expect that every parish send alteast 2 youngsters to participate in it. Fr. Jefferson Suresh, Province
Youth Director will coordinate the whole event and contact you with further details. Let us use this
opportunity to strengthen the faith experience of our youngsters.
7. Condolences
Mrs. Anthonyammal, (aged 79), mother of Late Fr. Amalraj Cappel SDB, passed away on 20th
February 2015, in Arisipalayam, Salem. While we pray for the repose of the soul of the departed,
we assure the members of the bereaved family our fraternal affection and prayerful support.
NEWS FROM THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL
Commission Reports:
a) DBICA – Social Communication Commission:
Fr. Harris, head of the Commission, presented the report of the activities of the Commission
for the year 2014-15. He described the philosophy and the work-flow of DBICA. He also
presented a new idea/proposal to the Council, namely to start “DB Studios” as a Company
for producing materials for mainstream media, without in any way disturbing the existing
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works of DBICA. The Council asked Fr. Harris to put down his ideas on paper and present the
same to be studied at the next meeting of the Provincial Council.
b) Kalvi Solai
Fr. Ashok Maria Kumar, head of the Commission, read out his report. It was pointed out
that Kalvi Solai was to focus on the animation of teachers, keep abreast of the educational
trends, animation of new teachers besides the regular animation of teachers and parents,
and to animate all sectors with regard to the dimension of education and culture in the
Salesian mission. Kalvi Solai is expected to be a resource centre for educational matters, like
keeping track of Govt GOs.
REQUESTS from Houses
1) Don Bosc, Tirupattur: The Provincial Council granted the request to go ahead with the proposed
school building after examining the estimate submitted by the contractor.
2) Don Bosco College, Dharmapuri: Permission granted to start another unit (50 students) in the B.
Ed. College, in view of the new policy of the Govt to extend the duration of the Course to two
years.
3. SMA Sisters: The provincial council decided to hand over the Perambur Rajiv Vazhama Nagar
Social Service Society to the Sisters of Maria Auxiliatrix, considering the fact that their Sisters have
been involved in it for many years
NEWS FROM THE SPCSA
The SPCSA Assembly was held on 24 and 25 February 2015 in Don Bosco Provincial House,
Hyderabad. This was followed by SPCSA Council on 26 February 2015 and the meeting of the
Provincials with the General Councillors, Fr. Francesco Cereda, Fr. Ivo Coelho, Bro. Jean Paul Müller
and Fr. Maria Arokiam on 27 and 28 February 2015.
Highlights of the SPCSA Assembly

The re-drafted statutes of most of the National level networks were taken up for discussions
and amendments. Some of the statutes were approved in the assembly.

The details of planning for the forthcoming Salesian Family congress in Kolkata was
presented by Fr. Nirmol Gomez, the Provincial of Kolkata and Youth Expo at Delhi was
presented by Fr. Jose Mathew, the Provincial of New Delhi. I will give you more details
about these Bicentenary events later.

Fr. Maria Arokiam, the Regional proposed to start a branch of ACSSA, the association for
promotion of Salesian history.

Fr. Santhanaraj, the coordinator for Economers network presented the summary of the
Vatican guidelines for the administration of the assets in Institutes of Consecrated life and
Societies of Apostolic Life which was presented by the Economer General during the
Economer’s meet.
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
The sector councilors chaired sessions relating to their departments explaining various
aspects in our life and mission that we need to pay attention as a Congregation, as
Provinces and as Salesian Communities.
Call to serve Mission territories
We are becoming a missionary province with all the missionary initiatives, with the growth of
the missionary aspirantate, missionary groups, and many confreres going to the mission every
year. In his sharing with the SPCSA members, Don Francesco Cereda, the Vicar of Rector Major,
was once again reminding us that we are a missionary congregation working in 132 countries.
But there are many other countries to reach out to. He was mentioning Malaysia, Lituania etc.
He was exhorting us to give our best to the Congregation and allow the best confreres to go to
the missions. There are requests also from Sri Lanka (technical sector and formation sector)
and Delhi province with a vast area. I exhort the confreres filled with missionary zeal to come
forward to take the Word of God to newer mission territories.
P R O VI N C E PR O G R A MM E S f o r MA R C H 2 01 5
5
6-7
8
14
Thu
Fri-Sat
Sun
Sat
18
19
31
Wed
Thu
Tue
Meeting of Rectors & Leaders of Communities, Citadel
Provincial Council, Citadel
Evaluation of Dimension Commissions, sectors and Departments
ERP Training for Administrators and Accountants /
Technical Exhibition and Job Fair
Diaconate Ordination, DB Shrine – Ayanavaram
Diaconate Ordination, St. Antony’s Church, T.C. Palaya-Bangalore
Last date for third scrutiny.
Conclusion:
Let me conclude with a Lenten thought from the author of the Imitation of Christ:
“In the Cross is salvation; in the Cross is life; in the Cross is protection against our enemies; in the
Cross is infusion of heavenly sweetness; in the Cross is strength of mind; in the Cross is joy of spirit;
in the Cross is excellence of virtue; in the Cross is perfection of holiness. There is no salvation of
soul, nor hope of eternal life, save in the Cross” (Thomas à Kempis).
May the season of Lent help us to understand ever more deeply the meaning of the Cross in our life
and in the lives of everyone around us.
Affectionately yours in Don Bosco,
Fr. Jayapalan Raphael SDB
Provincial
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