Fr Vijay Soy was born on 7 January 1974 in Hesag, Ranchi, India, to Simon Soy and Veronica Herenj. He is the youngest of three brothers. He was educated by the Ursuline Sisters in Hesag and attributes the inspiration for his Salesian vocation to Fr Guido Colussi and the Salesians at the Don Bosco Youth Centre in Hesag.
He completed his novitiate and then made his first profession in 1994 in Siliguri; he went on to study philosophy and obtained his degree at the Salesian College in Sonada, before completing his theological studies at Kristu Jyoti College in Bangalore. He was ordained a priest on 17 January 2004 in his home parish, the Church of Christ the King in Hesag.
Fr Soy brings a wealth of pastoral and academic experience to his new role. He has served as parish priest in Kereng, headmaster in Kokar, and as rector and headmaster in Gumla and Kuarmunda. He served as a provincial councillor from 2018 to 2021 and as provincial delegate for the Salesian Cooperators from 2022 to 2024. Since 2021, he has been Vice-Provincial and Delegate for Formation of the INN Province.
Fr Vijay Soy will be the sixth Superior of the New Delhi Province and will succeed Fr Davis Maniparamben who has held the office of Provincial since 8 February 2021. The date of his installation is yet to be confirmed.
The Salesian Province of New Delhi spans 11 states and two union territories in northern India and is present in 15 dioceses and 17 civil districts. The Province has 216 confreres and six novices spread across 26 communities. The confreres minister to poor and marginalised young people through 17 schools, 13 parishes, 9 youth hostels, 8 technical schools, 3 vocational training centres, 2 colleges, 2 centres for young people at risk, 2 counselling centres and various other centres and services.
