Social Communication delegates from Salesian provinces across South Asia gathered in Mumbai on 28 August 2026 for their annual meeting, which opened with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr Ashley Miranda, Provincial of Mumbai and in charge of BOSCOM.
In his homily, Fr Ashley reflected on the day’s readings — St Paul’s teaching on the wisdom of the Cross and the Gospel parable of the ten virgins — to remind the delegates that authentic communication flows only from a lived, personal encounter with Christ. “We cannot communicate what we have not experienced,” he said, urging the gathering to be communicators rooted in prayer rather than in mere technique, and to help young people build the inner reserves of faith that will sustain them through life’s uncertain journeys.
Delegates from the Trichy and Sri Lanka provinces were unable to attend.
The proceedings began with the unveiling of the new Boscom logo, centred on an image of Don Bosco, framed by two Cs — standing for “Communication for Communion.” Fr Bastin welcomed the delegates on behalf of the host province and thanked the Mumbai Province for its generosity in housing the Boscom office.
Addressing the delegates, Fr Ashley Miranda called for single-minded clarity in what Salesians communicate, whether in person, in print or on social media: the love, light and life of Christ, especially for young people on the margins. Drawing on Don Bosco’s use of every available means of communication, he stressed that the mission is not simply to inform but to create an environment in which people feel surrounded by God’s love.
He cautioned against reducing social communication to the work of a single “expert” in each community, insisting instead that every Salesian is called to be a communicator, with delegates serving as animators and coordinators rather than sole spokespersons. Communication, he said, must extend beyond writing and social media posts to include song, drama, music and every other sphere Don Bosco himself used at the Oratory — and it must always work hand in hand with youth ministry, giving young people the opportunity to become communicators and apostles to their peers.
Fr Ashley also flagged gaps that still need attention: provincial and community websites that lack even basic information, such as the names and photographs of superiors, and the contributions of lay collaborators, who work alongside the Salesians but are often unacknowledged in official communications. He called for a renewed focus on media education, so that delegates and confreres alike can communicate — and evaluate what they encounter in the media — more effectively.
Among the items discussed at the meeting were a social media policy for the provinces and the question of monetisation on social media platforms. The delegates also held elections for the post of Boscom secretary, unanimously electing Fr Blasius Tete from Dimapur to succeed Fr Francis Xavier.
Later in the day, the delegates visited Don Bosco Kurla, where students of the Hospitality programme hosted them for an Onam meal. The meal opened with a short presentation on the festival’s history and traditional dishes, after which the group returned to the provincial house.
News Courtesy: Fr Joy Joseph Kachappilly SDB
