Rev. Fr. Raphael Bejarano SDB, General Councillor for Youth Ministry, addressed nearly 300 young people at Don Bosco Institute (DBI), Kharghuli, on Monday, 02 March 2026. Fr. Raphael is in the Province to participate in the SPCSA Assembly and Council hosted at DBI, Kharghuli.
The visiting General Councillor was welcomed by Rev. Fr. Sebastian Kuricheal SDB, Provincial of Guwahati. In his welcome address, the Provincial expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Fr. Raphael for taking time out of his demanding schedule, especially after the SPCSA meetings, to interact personally with the youth. He appreciated the youthful and dynamic spirit of Fr. Raphael, noting that his presence radiates joy and helps young people better understand and embrace the Salesian identity.
Rev. Fr. Patrick Lepcha SDB, Director of Don Bosco Youth Animation (DBYA) South Asia, introduced Fr. Raphael to the gathering, highlighting his global responsibility in guiding and animating Salesian Youth Ministry across the Congregation.
Addressing the assembly, Fr. Raphael spoke with warmth and conviction, reminding the youth: “We are all children of Don Bosco. It doesn’t matter which religion you belong to, we are all children of Don Bosco.” He emphasized that Don Bosco’s legacy transcends boundaries of religion, culture, and language, uniting all in a shared mission of love and service.
Encouraging the youth to “dream together,” he invited them to build a culture of social friendship and fraternity. “We need to dream together the dream of social friendship and take forward that dream,” he said. He described Don Bosco institutions as spaces of encounter, places where differences of culture and background are appreciated and celebrated. “Here, we learn to work together as one human community,” he affirmed.
Reflecting on the spirituality of Don Bosco, Fr. Raphael outlined three essential elements:
- Welcoming people with an open heart.
- Being signs and bearers of hope for families around the world.
- Creating alliances with neighbours, communities, and all people of goodwill.
He congratulated the youth of the Northeast for their vibrant spirit and for belonging to a region rich in culture, beauty, and community values. He expressed his gratitude to the Province for the opportunity to meet and interact with the young people, describing the encounter as a moment of joy and renewed hope.
The session concluded with a sense of enthusiasm and inspiration among the youth, who felt affirmed in their identity as members of the larger Salesian family and encouraged to carry forward Don Bosco’s dream in their own contexts. The visiting general councillor later met the YS Coordinators and youth leaders of our centres.
