As if from above, the Madonna made him see the main cities of the future Salesian missions.
Mary, said:
Draw a single line
from one extremity
to the other,
from Santiago
to Peking,
traversing the centre
of Africa
and you will have
an exact idea
of how much work
the Salesians
have yet to do.
(MB XVIII p. 72-74)
That line touched
SOUTH ASIA.
That line touched
SOUTH ASIA.
1906
THE TANJORE
MISSION
The Salesians arrive in Bombay with
Fr George Tomatis
as their leader
on 5 January 1906.
They reach
Tanjore,
on 14 January.
The first batch of Salesians with students – Tanjore, 1906
L to R: Fr.Biebuyck, Fr. Tomatis, Fr. Vigneron and Fr. Balestra (standing)
The first temporary residence of the Salesians at Tanjore
“The Pinardi Shed” of the South Asian Region
The blessing of the foundation stone of the first Salesian House
Tanjore, 8 December 1906
Fr. Eugene Mederlet
assumes the leadership of the
Tanjore Mission
from 1908.
A Zealous Missionary
From baptising in a village at Tanjore…
…to entertaining guests in the city.
Fr. Tomatis entrusts the Tanjore Mission to Fr. Mederlet and leaves for Mylapore to take up the San Thome Orphanage on 10 January 1909.
1922
THE ASSAM
MISSION
The first batch of Salesians
to Assam, with
Fr. Louis Mathias
as leader,
lands in Bombay on
6 January and
reaches Shillong
on 13 January.
At the insistence of Propaganda Fide, the Salesians accept the Assam Mission. On 15 December 1922, Fr. Mathias is appointed the Prefect Apostolic.
A year later, India is made a vice province with Mgr. Mathias as the Superior. Under his stewardship, the Salesian apostolate flourishes.
The unexpected death of Fr. Tomatis
on 25 November 1925, is a great loss.
Meanwhile in the South, in the absence of the Bishop, ill feelings start developing between the Vicar General of the Padroado diocese of Mylapore and the Salesians of Tanjore and Mylapore.
The conflict with the Vicar General escalates. He fails to honour the terms of agreement.
In 1927, Fr. Ricaldone comes as the ‘Extraordinary Visitor’ to India.
When he realises that the Vicar General and the Diocesan Council refuse to change their stand, he decides to withdraw the Salesians from Mylapore and Tanjore.
It is a sad exit for the Salesians – after 22 years of work in Tanjore and 18 in Mylapore.
When Mgr. Mathias broaches the question of compensation, the Padroado gives the Salesians the Bandel Monastry in exchange for Tanjore and Mylapore. Mgr. Mathias willingly accepts the offer.
Jowai becomes the first missionary district of the Salesians in
North-East India. The Jowai Church is constructed in 1934.
The first batch of Missionaries to Assam with Fr. Ricaldone,
the Extraordinary Visitor, 1927
The directives of the Extraordinary Visitor,
Fr. Peter Ricaldone, in 1927,
help the consolidation and expansion of the Salesian work, both in the North and the South.
On 25 March 1927, Fr. Ricaldone communicates the news that the vice province of India is raised to the rank of a Province, with Mgr. Mathias as the first Provincial.
In 1928, Mgr. Eugene Mederlet becomes
the first Salesian Archbishop of Madras.
He suddenly passes away on 12 December 1934.
Mgr. Louis Mathias is ordained Bishop of Shillong in 1934, but a year later he succeeds Mgr. Mederlet as Archbishop of Madras. In 1952 the Archidiocese of Madras is joined to the diocese of Mylapore, and he becomes the first Archbishop of
Madras-Mylapore.
Archbishop
Stephen Ferrando
of Krishnagarh
founds the Institute of the Missionary Sisters
of Mary Help of
Christians in 1942.
Bishop Louis Morrow
of Krishnagar founds the
Catechist Sisters of
Mary Immaculate in 1948.
Right from the beginning the Salesians had been trying to foster indigenous vocations. In August 1907, Ignatius Muthu, a man of 28, joined the Salesians at Tanjore. He completed his initial formation in Portugal and Italy, and returned to India. He was ordained on 31 December 1916.
Others who followed him were:
Paul Mariamselvam
Joseph Sandanam,
Savarimuthu, the first
Indian Salesian Brother
and many more…
1
2
3
Mgr. Paul
Mariaselvam,
the first
Indian
Salesian Bishop
of Vellore - 1953.
Bishop
Orestes Marengo
of Dibrugarh - 1951
and Tura - 1973
From Archbishop Mederlet in 1928 till 2005 there have been 21 Salesian Archbishops and Bishops in the Region.
Today, there are 5 Archbishops and 4 Bishops – 8 in India and 1 in Myanmar.
THE FIRST FOUR PROVINCIALS
THE NORTHERN PROVINCE
THE SOUTHERN PROVINCE
SOME MISSIONARY PIONEERS
From 1906 till 1966, more than 450 Missionaries, mostly from Europe and a few from the Americas, came to India.
Most of them died in the land of their missionary adoption, a few returned to their countries. Today, 33 of them, well on in years, still continue to render dedicated service to the Region of South Asia.
5 JANUARY 1906 - ARRIVAL OF FIRST BATCH TO TANJORE
6 JANUARY 1922 - ARRIVAL OF FIRST BATCH TO ASSAM
28 MAY 1928 - THE FIRST PROVINCE OF THE REGION – KOLKATA
2379 Salesians and 156 Novices work in 331 centres spread over 9 Provinces and 3 Vice Provinces in 6 nations that together form the South Asian Region.
Over the years, many South Asian
Salesians have volunteered
to be missionaries in other parts of the world.
The province of East Africa that was initiated in 1980 is an example.
As the centenary concludes,
24 more Salesians prepare to leave for new mission lands.
