{"id":18759,"date":"2026-08-30T07:59:50","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T07:59:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/?post_type=province_news&p=18759"},"modified":"2026-08-30T07:59:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T07:59:52","slug":"provincial-urges-practical-trainees-to-live-the-salesian-mission-through-witness-and-selfless-service","status":"publish","type":"province_news","link":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/news\/provincial-urges-practical-trainees-to-live-the-salesian-mission-through-witness-and-selfless-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Provincial Urges Practical Trainees to Live the Salesian Mission Through Witness and Selfless Service"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Rev. Fr. Sebastian Kuricheal, SDB, Provincial, called upon practical trainees to deepen their commitment to the Salesian vocation by becoming credible witnesses of the Gospel and selfless servants of the young and the people entrusted to their care.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Fr. Sebastian was addressing the Practical Trainees\u2019 Meet 2026, held on 29\u201330 August, which brought together brothers and clerics undergoing practical training in the Province. The two-day programme focused on strengthening their understanding of Salesian spirituality, pedagogy and the practical demands of ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his address, the Provincial emphasized that the effectiveness of religious vocation depends not merely on words but, above all, on the witness of one\u2019s life. Recalling the principle that \u201clife speaks louder than words,\u201d he encouraged the trainees to examine whether their conduct inspires trust, credibility and confidence among the people they serve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He urged the young confreres to move beyond criticism of their communities and to ask themselves a more fundamental question: \u201cWhat is my contribution to the community in which I live?\u201d He stressed that the Practical Trainees\u2019 Meet should be a space for reflection, positive sharing and mutual enrichment rather than criticism or negative discussion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A central point of the Provincial\u2019s message was the call to renounce self-interest and embrace selflessness. Religious life, he said, demands a movement away from personal comfort and convenience towards the common good. The responsibilities entrusted to the confreres should therefore be carried out with generosity, zeal and a genuine spirit of service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fr. Sebastian also cautioned against a tendency to complain about difficulties or community arrangements. Genuine concerns, he said, should be brought respectfully and constructively to the Rector or the appropriate superiors. The purpose should not merely be to identify problems but to contribute towards finding solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drawing inspiration from St. John Bosco and the Salesian Constitutions, the Provincial highlighted the importance of fidelity to one\u2019s duties. Every confrere has a role to play, and carrying out that responsibility with humility, dedication and trust in God strengthens the unity and effectiveness of the Salesian community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He reminded the trainees that their various ministries\u2014whether teaching, accompanying young people, serving in hostels and boarding houses or undertaking other pastoral responsibilities\u2014are all integral to the mission of the Church, the Congregation and the Province. Though places and circumstances may differ, the Salesian mission remains the unifying focus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Practical Trainees\u2019 Meet included sessions on \u201cPractical Training: Living Don Bosco\u2019s Pedagogy in Daily Ministry,\u201d \u201cThe RATIO: The Formation Process: Practical Training,\u201d and \u201cLiving the Salesian Pedagogy Today: Challenges and Opportunities.\u201d The sessions were facilitated by Rev. Fr. Chellanthara John, SDB, Rector of Don Bosco B\u043eko; Rev. Fr. Bivian Rodrigues Mukhim, SDB, Vice Provincial; and Rev. Fr. V. M. Thomas, SDB, Associate Director of the Don Bosco Institute. The programme also included prayer, Holy Mass and Lauds, group discussion, sharing and a plenary session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recalling the example of Don Bosco, Fr. Sebastian said that the founder dedicated his life to the good of young people, ultimately seeking their integral growth and salvation. He encouraged the trainees, therefore, to see practical training not simply as professional or pastoral experience, but as preparation for a life of dedicated service in the Salesian mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concluding his address, the Provincial expressed gratitude to the participants and encouraged them to make the gathering an opportunity for renewal, fraternity and deeper commitment. He expressed the hope that the experience would help the young confreres become stronger, more effective and happier in serving the Lord, while carrying forward the mission of Don Bosco and the Church with faith, generosity and confidence in God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Sunday, Holy Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. V. M. Thomas, SDB, former Provincial, who encouraged the brothers to be disciples rather than merely admirers of Jesus. Drawing from his own experience of practical training, he urged the clerics and brothers to make the most of this important period by dedicating themselves wholeheartedly to their responsibilities, working diligently, and maintaining a meaningful presence among the young.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rev. Fr. Sebastian Kuricheal, SDB, Provincial, called upon practical trainees to deepen their commitment to the Salesian vocation by becoming credible witnesses of the Gospel and selfless servants of the young and the people entrusted to their care. Fr. Sebastian was addressing the Practical Trainees\u2019 Meet 2026, held on 29\u201330 August, which brought together brothers…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":18760,"template":"","meta":[],"class_list":["post-18759","province_news","type-province_news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1-12-1024x683.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/province_news\/18759","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/province_news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/province_news"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18759"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}