Fr. Silvio Roggia arrived at the Provincial House on 6th August 2025 (Wednesday) at about 6:00 pm. In a happy coincidence, the Provincial Council was having its monthly meeting on the same day. Thus at 7:00 pm he addressed the council members. In his short address, he spoke mainly on three areas: (1) the synergy of the Salesian life and apostolate; (2) the Salesians represent the Church in the world; and (3) the Salesian life as a communion in diversity. The members had sometime for interaction.
After the holy Rosary, he gave the goodnight talk to the whole community. There was a solemn welcome before supper since the council members were having meeting when he arrived.
On 7th August 2025 (Thursday), Fr. Silvio was in Sacred Heart Theological College (SHTC), Mawlai for the Inauguration of the Academic Year 2025-26. He was the main celebrant for the holy Eucharist. After the holy Mass he was present for the solemn inaugural programme where His Grace, Most Rev. Victor Lyngdoh, Archbishop of Shillong was the Chief Guest. At about 3:00 pm Fr. Silvio visited Don Bosco Museum and concluded with tea in the Museum itself. At about 5:00 pm, he met and interacted with the student brothers of SHTC and at 6:15 pm he met the staff of the same community. After dinner he returned to Provincial House.
On 8th August 2025 (Friday), Fr. Silvio began his journey to Don Bosco Aspirantate at Nonglakhiat in Ri-Bhoi District at 6:00 am. He celebrated the holy Mass; and after breakfast, he addressed and interacted with the aspirants. After meeting the boys, he addressed and interacted with the confreres of the community which was followed by lunch.
After lunch Fr. Silvio travelled to Upper Shillong where he visited the Generalate and the Novitiate of the Visitation Sisters of Don Bosco (VSDB), one of the members of the Salesian Family. At about 4:00 pm he addressed the Novices of the VSDB Sisters.
The Novices at Sunnyside were eagerly waiting for Fr. Silvio’s visit. The latter arrived at about 5:30 pm and began his interaction with them. He joined the evening prayer, dinner and night prayer with the novitiate community. He gave them goodnight talk and returned to Provincial House for the night rest.
On 9th August (Saturday), Fr. Silvio celebrated the Mass for the community of Provincial House and the school Principals who were present for their two-day meeting. During the homily he shared his reflection on the roles of the Salesians in the educational set-up. After breakfast he went to Pastoral Centre where we have our Aspirants who completed their Class XII and above.
The Visitor reached Pastoral Centre at 8:30 am and addressed the aspirants. At 9:30 am he left for Salesian Training Centre (STC) to meet the student brothers doing college studies. After a short meeting and interaction, he proceeded to Savio Juniorate, Mawlai.
Savio Juniorate, Mawlai is the Apostolic School with over 180 boys. Fr. Silvio arrived at about 10:00 am and the boys gave him a solemn welcome with songs, a choir and band pieces. He then addressed and interacted with the apostolic boys which was followed with a meeting with the confreres of the community. He took lunch with the community and then returned to Provincial House.
At 3:00 pm of the same day, the Visitor left for Bellefonte, the Novitiate of the FMA Sisters. He met the novices at Bellefonte and had tea with them. Fr. Silvio then visited the Novices at Mawroh who belong to the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians (MSMHC) Congregation, another member of the Salesian Family. After a short interaction with them, he returned to Provincial House.
He joined the community for evening prayer, spiritual reading, the Rosary prayer, supper and gave them his last goodnight talk. He thanked the community and the province for the hospitality he received and encouraged everyone to keep up with the Salesian life and apostolate.
On 10th August (Sunday), after a light breakfast at 6:00 am, he left for Amguri which is the Prenovitiate house of Dimapur province (IND). Fr. Deli Kapani, the Vice Provincial of Dimapur, had come on the previous day to fetch Fr. Silvio.
We thank God for the gift of Fr. Silvio Roggia as the General Councillor for Formation and we specially thank him for choosing Shillong Province to be among the first provinces to visit extensively after assuming office.
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