A Warm Welcome at Dawn
Fr Fabio arrived at Azimganj Junction early in the morning, where he was warmly welcomed by Salesian confreres, prenovices, religious sisters, parish leaders and lay collaborators. Traditional songs, rhythmic drums and gestures of welcome accompanied him from the railway station to Savio Bhavan, expressing the joy of the local Church at receiving the Successor of Don Bosco during the centenary year. The procession was itself a beautiful testimony of communion between Salesians and the Santhal faithful who have grown with the mission over the decades.
Eucharist at the Heart of the Mission
At 11:45 a.m., Fr Fabio presided over the solemn Eucharistic celebration in the Don Bosco grounds, concelebrated by the Provincial, Salesian confreres and diocesan clergy. Nearly 7,000 faithful, coming from various parishes, substations and villages, gathered for the Mass—many having travelled long distances to be present.
The liturgy, enriched by Santhal hymns, drums and processional movements, reflected the deep inculturation of faith that has marked the Azimganj mission over decades. The homily, translated into Santhali, centered on two key spiritual themes: wisdom and silence.
Drawing from the first reading, Fr Fabio recalled King Solomon’s prayer, who asked God not for power or wealth, but for wisdom. True wisdom, he explained, enables discernment, helps avoid doing harm to others, and leads people to actively do good. It is a freedom that prevents one from becoming a slave to power, possessions or fear.
He then reflected on silence, reminding the assembly that even Jesus invited His disciples to withdraw to quiet places after intense activity. Silence, he said, is not the absence of words, but being fully present before God, listening to what He is saying within. “Wisdom and silence go together,” he noted, “because only in silence can God shape our decisions, especially before anger or hatred take control.”
A Word to Salesians and Educators
Addressing Salesians and educators in particular, the Rector Major stressed that forming young people to be good Christians and responsible citizens is itself an act of wisdom. Yet this mission requires educators who are deeply rooted in God’s presence. “We cannot educate wisely unless we ourselves are people of God,” he said. “Silence is the space where God forms us, so that we may become wise educators, filled with His presence.”
Encounter, Culture and Celebration
After a fraternal lunch with priests and religious, Fr Fabio met in the afternoon with Salesians, members of the Salesian Family and the Provincial Council, followed by tea with teachers and collaborators. The day concluded with a vibrant cultural programme in the Don Bosco grounds.
Santhal dance troupes, youth, boarding students, women’s groups and past pupils presented traditional dances, folk songs and short skits that narrated both their cultural identity and their journey of faith. Addressing the gathered faithful, guests, youth, teachers and Salesian Family members—through translation into Bengali—the Rector Major encouraged them to remain rooted in faith, culture and education as signs of hope for future generations.
In the evening, back at Savio Bhavan, the prenovices greeted the Rector Major, marking the encounter with a moment of family spirit and shared photographs.
A Mission with Deep Roots
The significance of the visit lies in a story that began in the 1950s, when Salesian pioneer Fr John Topno first ventured from Berhampore into the interior of Murshidabad district, reaching out to Santhals and East Bengal migrants living in severe poverty and with minimal pastoral care. From those fragile beginnings, the Azimganj mission, formally developed in the 1960s, grew into a major centre of evangelization, education and social uplift along the Bhagirathi river.
Over the decades, boarding houses, catechumenates, village chapels and new mission centres emerged, nurturing local vocations and vibrant parish communities. What began as a risky frontier has become one of the most dynamic missionary areas of the Kolkata Province.
A Centenary Sign of Hope
The Rector Major’s visit to Azimganj during the centenary year highlighted the deeper meaning of the province’s hundred‑year journey: a mission rooted not in numbers or structures, but in presence, listening, respect for culture, and faith shared with the poor.
The gathering of thousands of Santhal faithful around the Successor of Don Bosco will remain a landmark moment in the centenary chronicle of the Salesians of Kolkata, reaffirming that the Salesian charism continues to bear fruit at the peripheries, generation after generation.
{gallery}Visita RM DB Azimganj{/gallery}
