GUWAHATI: The centenary celebrations of the Don Bosco Society were inaugurated in a solemn function at the Don Bosco campus at Panbazar here on Wednesday, stated a press release. Archbishop John Moolachira of the Guwahati Archdiocese, the Chief Guest for the function, hoisted a special centenary flag and declared the centenary celebrations open. The youth of Don Bosco Institute, Kharguli, sang the centenary anthem and danced to its tune too. The heads of Salesian Family and Salesian Fathers and Brothers participated in this programme along with other invited guests from the clergy and religious bodies of the city.
At the end of the inaugural programme, Archbishop John Moolachira presided over a special Holy Eucharist at St Joseph's Co-Cathedral Church in the campus.
Don Bosco Past Pupils organized a Blood Donation Camp on this occasion.
In his welcome speech, Father Januarius S Sangma, Provincial of Don Bosco Society in Guwahati, said, "The arrival of the first group of 11 Salesian missionaries was the beginning of a glorious chapter in the history of the North-East that is replete with missionary adventures and achievements which deserve to be written in letters of gold."
Archbishop John Moolachira, in his address, said, "Today we congratulate the Don Bosco Society for their presence and contribution for what they have done, and what they are doing in the North-East."
A book on the memoirs of the one of the first 11 missionaries, Brother Gumersindo Cid, written by Father Kuriala Chittattukalam, was released on the occasion. This book is a window into the heroic life of the early missionaries, who struggled to establish the various Don Bosco institutions for the welfare of the people of the North-East.
The other sub-regions under Don Bosco Society, Guwahati, namely Garo Hills in Meghalaya, Bodoland, Karbi Anglong, Assam Plains and Kamrup in Lower Assam had their inaugural celebrations in the various Don Bosco institutions by way of flag-hoisting and other cultural programmes.
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