austraLasia #3478
Fruit and testimony of Faith
SIRAJULI (Northeast India)
: July 29,
2014 -- Here is another angle to yesterday's topic. We
have some 100 or so recipients of austraLasia in our
neighbouring region of South Asia. One of them, a young
Salesian working at the Salesian Missionary Aspirantate in
Northeast India, Bro. Arlius Sangmar by name, would like to
add a perspective from the Adviso, Boro and Khasi tribal
areas, the chief source of candidates for the Hubert D'Rosario
Institute, Sirajuli, an aspirantate that opened in Northeast
India in the region extensively evangelised by the Salesians.
There is a second such aspirantate at Perambur, Chennai
Province.
You could also watch the 25 minute video
produced by Art.43 (Poland). Art. 43 is an interesting
scene in itself - a group of professional young Salesians
fully dedicated to Communications and film making. They show
the connection between Ivrea, the first Salesian missionary
aspirantate, and these new ventures at Sirajuli and Perambur.
You may benefit from downloading the video unless your
streaming possibilities are excellent. The video is important if you want to hear the
real 'fruit and testimony of faith': Faith received giving
rise to the desire to proclaim that Faith elsewhere.
Like all major human enterprises
inspired by God, the Missionary Aspirantate dedicated to
Archbishop Hubert D’Rosario SDB at Sirajuli, Assam, has had a
very humble beginning. This was initiated as a response to the
clarion call for missionaries from India by the then Rector
Major, Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva. Such a ‘call’, during the
auspicious occasion of the centenary of Salesian India
(1906-2006) had far-reaching reverberations. The Rector Major
encouraged the establishment of two Missionary
Aspirantates for India.
On April 7, 2009, the Rector Major authorized the
establishment of the Aspirantate at Sirajuli attached to a
school. On April 15, 2009, Bishop Michael Akasius Toppo, the
Bishop of Tezpur, blessed and laid the Foundation Stone of the
Institute. On November 10, 2011, Fr Pascual Chavez blessed the
plaque dedicating it to St John Bosco and on November
122, 2011, the Institute was solemnly inaugurated by Fr Václav
Klement, the General Councillor for Missions at the time.
Since its inception, the Institute has been training young men
desirous of opting for missio
ad gentes. The missionary Institute is to serve the
Northern Provinces of Panjim, Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi,
Dimapur, Silchar and Guwahati. Fr Paul Lyngkot was the
pioneering Rector, settling the house with the help of the
first batch of 13 pre-novices. Presently, there are 75 boys in
four classes: Pre-novices, Class XII, Class XI and the
Preparatory Course who have just joined the community after
the Vocation Camp.
The formation community is serious about its formation
programmes: there are regular classes, conferences, lectio divina, sodalities
and other group activities. ‘Personal responsibility’ in the
process of formation is strongly emphasized. Times for
personal reflection, sharing, of a “decisive walk with the
Lord” mark the life of the community. Coming as they are from
different socio-cultural and linguistic backgrounds, the
“live-in experience” in the community has enormous effect. The
constant inspiration of the community is the gallery of
Salesian Missionaries which dots the corridors of this nascent
Missionary Institute. In gist, it is a formative growth in the
various facets of life: human, Christian, intellectual, moral,
spiritual, etc. From an intellectual point of view, the
aspirants complete the two-year Higher Secondary course during
this formative period.
The arrival of Fr Joseph Almeida SDB as the second Rector has
given a fresh lease of life to the community. His personal
charisma, his attachment to the Congregation and the Church,
coupled with his love for local vocations continues to guide
the community towards its missionary goal. The formation team
of three priests, a Salesian brother and three clerics creates
a conducive atmosphere for formation of these young men.
Formation thus truly becomes accompaniment!
The strategic location of the National Highway 52 from
Guwahati to Tezpur is another added boon. Guwahati, the
provincial headquarters is about 125 kms away while the
diocesan headquarters at Tezpur is just about 45 kms. The
occasional visits of ecclesiastical superiors, priests and
religious, laity, friends and well-wishers are great
opportunities of vocational growth.
It is expected that 2015 will see the first batch of
missionaries from Sirajuli joining the Annual Missionary
Expedition sent out from the Basilica of Mary Help of
Christians in Turin.
