The participants of the SYM LAF Training, along with Rev. Fr. Joseph Pampackal SDB, Provincial of Dimapur, during the SYM LAF Training for the three North East Provinces at DBIDL, Dimapur, Nagaland.
Twenty-nine youth leaders from different centres of the Province are attending the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM) Leaders and Animators Formation Programme for the three North-East Provinces, which was officially inaugurated today, September 6, 2025, in a spirit of faith and leadership, with a powerful call to action for young attendees.
The event, held at the Don Bosco Institute for Development and Leadership (DBIDL) in Dimapur, commenced with a solemn Holy Mass presided over by Rev. Fr. Joseph Pampackal SDB, the Provincial of Dimapur. In his inaugural sermon, Fr. Pampackal set the tone for the four-day programme by urging the 75 young leaders present to embrace their vital role as “the salt of the earth and the light of the world.”
Drawing from the Gospel, the Provincial outlined three powerful images and roles for the youth to embody. He first called on them to “Be the Salt.” “Just as salt preserves food from decaying, the young people should preserve the values in society: honesty, purity, kindness, and faith,” Fr. Pampackal stated. He highlighted the challenges of the modern world, noting, “The world today is losing its taste – corruption, addictions, and violence are everywhere. Jesus looks at you and says: You are the salt, give flavour to life.”
Moving to his second point, Fr. Pampackal encouraged the leaders to ‘Be the Light.’ He invited them to follow the example of Don Bosco, who became a ‘lamp of hope’ for the poor youth in Turin. “Jesus said, ‘You are the light of the world, let your light shine before others.’ Do not hide your talents, your faith, and your kindness,” he implored. “Shine brightly so that others can find their way.”
Finally, he asked the young leaders to be “A City on a Hill” that inspires others through visibility and example. “Salesian youth are called not to hide but to stand tall as leaders, living as examples of courage and service,” he said, reminding them of the transformative communities Don Bosco built.
Concluding his reflection, Fr. Pampackal synthesized the message: be a salt that preserves values, a light that guides others, and a city on a hill that inspires society. He left the youth with a stirring charge: “The Church and the world are waiting for you. Do not remain hidden, do not lose the taste, and do not let the light go out. Instead, shine, inspire, and influence.”
The inaugural Mass and ceremony were attended by a host of Salesian dignitaries, including Rev. Fr. Bivan Rodriques Mukhim, Vice Provincial of Guwahati; Rev. Fr. Nibu Mathew, Rector of DBIDL; and the youth delegates from the three participating provinces: Rev. Fr. Theotimus Lakra (Dimapur), Rev. Fr. Cletus Sebastian (Guwahati), and Fr. Ritonbor Kharkongor (Shillong). Rev. Fr. Regi Mani, Social Experience Delegate of Dimapur, was also present.
The formation programme, which began on the evening of September 5th and will run until September 8th, brings together youth leaders from the Salesian provinces of Dimapur, Guwahati, and Shillong. The event is designed to form and equip them with the spiritual and practical tools needed for effective leadership and animation within the Salesian Youth Movement.
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