On 12th October 2025, the Don Bosco Institute, Guwahati, was filled with joy and gratitude as the Salesian Family, friends, and well-wishers gathered to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Priestly Ordination of Rev. Fr. Joseph Thelekkatt SDB. The celebration was a moving expression of thanksgiving for fifty years of dedicated priestly service and pastoral commitment to the mission of the Church and the Salesian Congregation.
The Holy Mass began at 6:00 PM, presided over by Rev. Fr. Joseph Thelekkatt himself, surrounded by many Salesian confreres, priests, religious, and lay collaborators. The liturgy was marked by a deep sense of reverence and thanksgiving as the congregation joined in prayer for Fr. Thelekkatt, thanking God for his steadfast faith, humility, and zeal in the service of the young and the poor.
During the homily, special emphasis was given to the significance of priestly fidelity and the joy of serving Christ through the charism of Don Bosco. The event reflected the theme of gratitude, gratitude to God for His abundant grace and to Fr. Thelekkatt for being a faithful instrument of that grace for half a century.
Following the Holy Eucharist, a felicitation programme was organized in honour of the jubilarian. Colleagues, confreres, and friends shared warm tributes highlighting his years of teaching, spiritual guidance, and leadership within various Salesian communities and educational institutions. The heartfelt words of appreciation painted a picture of a man deeply rooted in prayer, known for his wisdom, simplicity, and fatherly presence. The felicitation programme was attended by two bishops and six former provincials.
In his address, Fr. Joseph Thelekkatt expressed his profound gratitude to God, to the Salesian Congregation, and to all those who journeyed with him over the past fifty years of priestly life. He acknowledged that his journey was filled with both challenges and blessings, and he attributed every grace to God’s providence and the support of his confreres. The celebration, hosted by Fr. Cletus Sebastian SDB, Executive Director of Don Bosco Institute, was a testimony to the enduring legacy of priestly service and commitment embodied by Fr. Joseph Thelekkatt. The students of the institute presented cultural programmes to mark the occasion.
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