DON BOSCO YOUTH CENTRE (1993)
St John Bosco Patron
Shillong Archdiocese
(Attached to Salesian Training Centre)
Don Bosco Youth Centre
Shillong – 793 003, Meghalaya
(0364) 2222890
96121 69890 Fr. Cilia
Members
Fr. Cilia Joseph Director, Cs
Fr. Thomas Kannala
History
Don Bosco Youth Centre, situated in the heart of the city of Shillong, was opened in 1983 with Fr. Joseph Cilia as its director. It definitely is the place that the youth frequent most, whether for a friendly chat among themselves, or with the director, or for participating in the programmes that are regularly conducted here. It offers educational, vocational and formation avenues, both formal and informal, such as typewriting, shorthand, computer, sewing/knitting and coaching classes, formative courses, counseling facilities, programmes on TV/radio, library facilities, Sunday services, alcoholics anonymous group, guitar classes, drugs/aids awareness programmes, meetings, socials, etc. The chapel of the youth centre is utilized by the Tripuri, Boro Mizo and Naga communities for their Sunday Eucharistic celebrations. Many an organization holds their programmes at the youth centre precisely because of its ideal location. In 2002, the Government of Meghalaya conferred the Meghalaya Day Award 2002 on Fr. Joseph Cilia, the director of the Youth Centre for the excellent and outstanding services to the state and to the people.
At first, the centre formed part of the community of Salesian Training Centre, and it made of a building left vacant by the shifting of St. Anthony’s college to its present premises. This was eventually pulled down to make room for a more spacious and functioning building. On April 5, 1993, the Don Bosco Youth Centre was set up as a separate Salesian community with Frs. Joseph Cilia, Augustine Kootala and Cajetan Guidotto as members of the community.