Four Salesians of the Province, Rev Fr Joy Kachapilly SDB, Delegate of Social Communication of the Province, Rev Fr Bivan Rodriques Mukhim SDB, Vice Provincial, Rev Fr Jimmy T. Sangma SDB and Rev Fr Bromio Marak SDB, members of the province commission took part in the General Meeting of BOSCOM (Bosco Communications) held at Siloam, Umiam Khwan, Ri Bhoi District, Meghalaya, from 25 to 28 February 2026. The three-day assembly was organised by the Salesian Province of Shillong and brought together twenty-six delegates from various Salesian Provinces across India.

The meeting was graced by the presence of Fr Fidel Ma D. Orendain SDB, General Councillor for Social Communication, who attended along with Fr Sathish Paul and Fr Ricardo Campoli from Rome. The General Body Meeting commenced with the Holy Mass officiated by Fr Fidel, invoking God’s blessings upon the deliberations and reaffirming the spiritual foundation of the Salesian communication apostolate.

In his homily, Fr Fidel reflected on the Gospel of the day, drawing attention to the “sign of Jonah.” “The sign of Jonah today, in our Salesian context, is not virality. It is integrity. It is coherence between what we proclaim and how we live,” he said. Emphasising the pastoral dimension of communication, he added, “The true sign of our mission is not how many follow us. It is whether the young feel accompanied.”

Welcoming the delegates at the official inauguration, Rev Fr John Zosiama SDB, Provincial of the Shillong Province, highlighted the host province’s rich cultural diversity, deep-rooted faith traditions, and vibrant youth population. He expressed hope that the gathering would strengthen collaboration and renew the missionary zeal of communicators in the region

Fr Ernest, BOSCOM South Asia Delegate, elaborated on the theme of the meeting at his welcome address, Media as Mission: Building Safe and Hope-filled Digital Spaces for the Young in the Spirit of Don Bosco. He urged participants to “move beyond being ‘users’ of technology to being ‘architects’ of a digital culture that mirrors the preventive system: Reason, Religion, and Loving-kindness.”

During the official inauguration, Fr Kampen, Director of NESCOM, cautioned that algorithms often shape young minds before faith can. Addressing the gathering, Fr Fidel stressed the importance of balance in innovation. “Innovation is necessary to be relevant, but not at the cost of losing the identity, mission and core values of the Salesian system,” he noted.

On the first evening, participants engaged in an interactive session with Fr Fidel and Fr. Ashley Miranda, BOSCOM Provincial in charge and Provincial of the Bombay Province, discussing the challenges and opportunities in the digital apostolate.

The gathering concluded with a strong resolve among the delegates to build safe, hope-filled, and value-driven digital environments for the young, in fidelity to the charism of Don Bosco and the mission of the Church.