The Province celebrated Province Community Day 2026 on Friday 09 October 2026, bringing together the confreres for a time of prayer, reflection, fraternal sharing and renewal of their commitment to the Salesian mission. During the homily at the Holy Mass, Rev. Fr Sebastian Kuricheal SDB, Provincial, called upon the confreres to strengthen communion, deepen their spiritual life and serve the young with faith, courage and generosity. Reflecting on the Word of God, he emphasised that the greatest threat to the Province was not a shortage of resources or the pressures of a changing society, but the gradual erosion of fraternity and communion among the confreres.

Recalling the growth of the Province since 1959, Fr Kuricheal expressed gratitude for the grace of God and the generous service of generations of Salesians who had contributed to its development. He reminded the confreres that, just as the Society of St Francis de Sales came into being through God’s initiative, the Province too was a gift of divine providence and a fruit of the dedication and sacrifice of many confreres.

Reflecting on the Gospel message that a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, the Provincial warned against individualism, criticism, comparisons and divisions within communities. He underlined that living and working together was a fundamental requirement of Salesian religious life. He urged the confreres to ensure that no one in the Province felt isolated or forgotten, encouraging them to visit one another, communicate regularly, listen with understanding and practise forgiveness. Salesian communities, he said, must be genuine homes where every confrere experiences acceptance, fraternity and a sense of belonging.

The Provincial also cautioned against the danger of maintaining well-organised institutions and efficient programmes while neglecting the spiritual foundation of religious life. Drawing inspiration from the Gospel’s image of the house that was swept clean but left unoccupied, he observed that a community could appear successful externally yet become spiritually empty if it lacked the presence of Christ. He stressed that activism without prayer, routine without renewal and comfort without apostolic zeal could gradually weaken the Salesian vocation. Referring to Don Bosco’s vision, he reminded the confreres that Salesian houses must be filled with young people, joy and the presence of God.

Emphasising the importance of faith, Fr Kuricheal asked the confreres not to measure their vocation merely by the institutions they managed, the projects they completed or the recognition they received, but to remain rooted in Christ and open to the gift of the Holy Spirit. Referring to the Strenna for the year, inspired by Mary’s words at Cana, “Do whatever He tells you,” he invited the Salesians to listen attentively to the Lord and respond with freedom, courage and generosity.

Concluding his homily, Fr Kuricheal proposed three essential commitments for the Province: to strengthen communion, to fill every community with the presence of God, and to serve with the freedom and courage born of faith. He encouraged the confreres to remain faithful to the Eucharist, meditation, community prayer and monthly recollection, describing these spiritual practices as essential for keeping their communities centred on Christ.

He also reminded the Salesians of Don Bosco’s love for the young, recalling the words, “You are young is enough to make me love you very much.” He urged every confrere to make this spirit of unconditional love visible in daily life and ministry.

The Provincial concluded by inviting the confreres to give thanks for the gift of their vocation and the Province, praying that Christ would keep their communities united and filled with the Holy Spirit, that St Denis and his companions would inspire them with missionary courage and fraternal fidelity, and that Mary, Help of Christians, the patroness of the Province, would guide them to serve the Lord with joyful and generous hearts.

The celebration of Province Community Day was an occasion for the confreres to renew their sense of belonging to the Province, deepen their bonds of fraternity and reaffirm their commitment to living the Salesian charism in communion with one another and in dedicated service to the young.