Rev. Fr. Tony Pellissery, SDB and other members during a meeting at Bosco Reach Out to discuss on Poverty Eradication Mission.
Bosco Reach Out (BRO), the social development wing of the Salesians of Don Bosco in Guwahati, organized an important meeting on Mission Poverty Eradication on 19th June 2025. The gathering brought together several Salesian leaders, with the session being animated by Rev. Fr. Tony Pellissery, SDB. The meeting was attended by Rev. Fr. Bivan Rodrigues Mukhim, SDB, Vice Provincial, Rev. Fr. Sebastian Ishorary, SDB, Director of Bosco Reach Out, Rev. Fr. Ignatius Gari SDB, In-charge Poverty Eradication Mission of the Province and other Salesian confreres committed to social transformation.
The meeting centred on the urgent call to make the Salesian mission more attuned to the needs of the poor and marginalized. In his presentation, Fr. Tony Pellissery reminded those present of the foundational spirit of Don Bosco, emphasizing, “Don Bosco went out to the streets.” Citing Pope Francis, he echoed, “Don Bosco steps out of the sacristy to be out in the streets with the poor,” challenging the Salesians to be bold in their outreach.
Fr. Tony also referred to the recently concluded General Chapter 29 (GC29), during which former Rector Major Rev. Fr. Pascual Chávez and the Vicar of the Rector Major Rev. Fr. Stephano Martoglio called upon the Salesians to “redesign the congregation at all levels to serve the poor better.” This, he emphasized, is a clarion call to align all structures and activities of the Congregation towards the service of the poor.
He further stressed that the South Asia Region, despite being home to a large population living below the poverty line, also boasts of a strong Salesian presence—constituting one-fifth of the Congregation worldwide. “This makes the mission achievable if all of us commit ourselves with vision and purpose,” Fr. Tony asserted. He called on the Province to adopt a collective approach with “eyes for the poor” and hearts open to radical action.
In his concluding exhortation, Fr. Tony urged the Salesians of the Province to champion the mission of poverty eradication not as a program or a project, but as an essential part of their Salesian identity and spiritual vocation. The meeting concluded with a renewed sense of commitment among the participants, pledging to foster initiatives that uplift the underprivileged and marginalized.
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