India - Fr. Gildasio Mendes, General Councillor for Social Communication, Visits Dimapur Province

19 August 2022

(ANS – Dimapur ) - Fr. Jose Kuruvachira, Provincial and his confreres received Fr. Gildasio Mendes, General Councillor for Social Communication in Dimapur Province on 10th August, 2022. The General Councillor met the province delegate and his team on 11th August, where the report of the Social Communication of Dimapur Province was shared. “Communication,” he said, “has to do with whole body, the province. The networking of the communities will determine the progress of the use of social communication. We need to widen the concept of communication.”

He added that the congregation has been growing on the ground of culture. The Salesians “need to go back to the roots, the cultures. Each province has its uniqueness because of the different cultural groups and we need to empower and promote those cultures, he said. The congregation goes with the rhythm of each of the provinces in the world. The talents and contributions of Salesians, be they writers, painters, singers, preachers, etc., contribute to the growth of the congregation.”

The General Councillor also said, “art is the heart of the congregation.” Just as Don Bosco gave expression to his love and message of the Gospel through various arts the Salesians present there were asked to imitate him in the digital world. Fr. Gildasio reminded his Salesians that the congregation is “for the mission and not for congregation alone.” He further said, “Congregation is power when we work for the mission. We should use resources wisely for the mission, by promoting communities, help provincial and his team, uplift the weaker sections of the society.” He encouraged the Salesians present there to work hard to promote vocations. 

In the afternoon of 11th August, he visited Salesian College, Dimapur, where he was welcomed by the community of Fathers and young clerics who are doing their two years of Diploma in Philosophy. The Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians (MSMHC), who are the immediate community, were also present to meet Fr. Gildasio.  He congratulated and gave the certificates of participation to the brothers who were the awardees of the Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival (DBGYFF) held on 18 & 19 November 2021, on the theme of our Rector Major’s Strenna 2021: Moved by Hope. These Salesian clerics from Salesian College Dimapur, had put up a Sadri language film ‘Sikchha Hamar Asha’ (Education is our Hope), which was adjudged best at the Asian continent level. In his interaction, Fr. Gildasio encouraged the Salesian family gathered there to continue the good works they were doing in the formation house. He expressed his desire that the students in formation should strive to perfect their skills and arts in order to contribute to the congregation. “The best contents,” the Councillor said, “are the Salesians themselves who carry and promote cultures in the digital world.”

On 12th August, Fr. Gildasio visited Emmaus Salesian Novitiate, Sechii-Zubza, on the way to Kohima where he was welcomed by Fr. Deli Kapani, Novice Master, Fr. Nellisseril Joseph, Parish Priest and Rector of Savio Home (an apostolic school), Sr. Teresa Manail FMA of Little Flower Convent, Bro. Yanthan Ekonthung Aaron, the assistant and 20 novices. He thanked the Novice master for his dedicated life and sacrifice in order to form the young novices. “You are the future of our congregation,” he told the novices, “and let your love for Jesus and Don Bosco guide you.”

At 12:00 pm, Fr. Gildasio visited Don Bosco College, Kohima. Fr. Suresh Innocent Padmanabhan, the Rector and Principal, Fr. Palathingal Varghese, in- charge of the student brothers and aspirants,  Fr. TP James, the Principal of Don Bosco Higher Secondary School Kohima, Fr. Christudoss Anthony, in-charge of Computer Centre, the teachers, leaders of the different departments and clubs warmly welcomed him. The students ceremoniously took him to the hall and had an interactive session. During his interaction with the students, Fr. Gildasio told them that “arts is very crucial and the most powerful tool of social communication.” Seeing the various tribes and communities he added that they should promote music and arts which are the best means of expression of values. “Music,” he said, “is the best way to express the values of your tribe, community.” The General Councillor shared about Don Bosco’s life story saying that he was a composer, writer, musician, preacher. “He used arts to design the preventive system,” he added.

When one of the students asked who his model was, Fr. Gildasio told him, “Jesus Christ is my role model. He is more complete than anyone in the world. He is able to accept everyone and showed respect to everyone, irrespective of gender, creed and status. He is a great man.” While answering some questions from the students on environment, he stated that everyone should cultivate “the ability to live together.” He also stressed about the clean energy and encouraged the students to plant more trees and to take care of the garbage and waste materials.

In the evening, at 4:00 pm, Fr. Gildasio went to the Christ King Parish and met Fr. CM Joseph, Parish Priest and Fr. Paulus Kerketta, Assistant Parish Priest, Mr. Jerome Vizo, Commissioner for Information Technology cum Power as well as Adviser to the Nagaland Chief Minister, Mr. K. Albert, Youth President,  Mr. Kenneth, Youth Secretary, Mr. K. Albert, Catholic Union President, Mr. Robert, the catechist and others. He had a short interaction with the team who won the best music video award in the Don Bosco Global Youth Film Festival (DBGYFF) held on 18 & 19 November 2021 (an Angami music video, Thenupfii Riilii – the Plight of a Mother). He told them that he came in the name of Rector Major.

“A parish is the gathering of the people of faith,” he told the youth. “This faith makes us one and continues to support us to build the Church. You have to invest your faith for your tomorrow. This parish is the example of Salesian parishes with the catechists and different groups working along with the parish priest,” he added. He was taken up by their rich traditional attires, other cultural items, songs and dances. “You need to promote,” he told the youth, “music, culture, sustainable economy and make awareness about ecology and help the poor.” 

On 13th August, at 11:30 am, Fr. Gildasio Mendes, General Councillor for Social Communication went to the Dimapur airport, accompanied by Fr. Jose Kuruvachira, provincial, and Fr. Jaojian Daniel Gangmei, delegate of the province for Social Communication. At 02:30 pm he left Dimapur Airport for Kolkatta.

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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