SACRED HEART THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

SACRED HEART THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE – MAWLAI

(Estd. 1938) INS 24

Mawlai – Shillong

Meghalaya – 793008

BRIEF HISTORY

Sacred Heart Theological College, originally known as Our Lady’s House, was opened at Laitumkhrah, Shillong, in 1928 for the formation of the Salesian Clerics. It was shifted to its present site at Mawlai in 1938.

Temporarily closed in 1967, the college was reopened in 1976. Ever since its reopening, taking into account the particular advantages of its location, the College has been striving to promote Missiological studies.

In 1981 the College was affiliated to the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS), Rome, with the decree of the Congregation for Catholic Education dated 06^th June 1981. The affiliation was renewed on 05^th March 1986. Since the acquisition of affiliation, the B.Th. degree has been conferred on students who do the basic course in Theology.

Since 1983 a dialogue was under way with the competent authorities of the UPS for aggregation of the College to the same University to enable the students to obtain a Master’s Degree in Systematic Theology (M.Th.) with specialization in Missiology. Aggregation was accorded to the College by a decree of the Congregation for Catholic Education dated 24^th May 1989. Over one hundred students have so far completed their M.Th. studies. From 2006 SHTC offers a second specialization, namely, Master’s Degree in Spirituality.

From 1993 the College has been offering a one year Integrated Training for Laity and Religious (I.T.L.R). It is in response to a felt need of the Church in this area. The aim of the course is to impart a deeper knowledge of Christian Faith and doctrines so that it may be lived more personally and shared more competently with the people at large especially the youth.

From the academic year 2005-2006 SHTC began to offer a two year Diploma Course in Theology (D.C.T), specially designed for the Specific Formation of the Salesian Brothers. It was opened to other religious too. The Course was temporarily discontinued since 2013. From 2012 the College has been offering short-term courses on various important themes. These courses are meant for the animation of clergy and religious working in North east India.

The College has a well established Library (Otto Hopfenmuller Library) with nearly 1000 volumes of print books and several other knowledge sharing facilities. The Vendrame Institute of Publications, a College ministry, publishes regularly the well appreciated missionary journal MISSION TODAY, formerly known as IMR (Indian Missiological Review). The College has for its credit numerous volumes of publication, including the Gariya Goith publication in Sadri language.

The reach out ministry the CARING and the Sunday Ministries the College offer numerous services to the local Church and the neighborhood.

In memory of late Fr. Sngi Lyngdoh, in 2016 the College has begun the Sngi Institute for Tribal Studies (SITS) in the campus. This Institute is meant to spearhead studies and researches on tribal related issues, theological reflections on tribal cultures and promotion of the process of contextualization of faith.

STATISTICS

DON BOSCO CENTRE FOR INDIGENOUS CULTURES (DBCIC)

(Estd. 1994)  INS 19

Mawlai; Shillong

Meghalaya – 793008

BRIEF HISTORY   

The attractive hexagonal edifice with seven storeys, 56,000 square feet of floor space and 15,154 square feet of display wall space, the Don Bosco Museum, situated in Mawlai, Shillong is the largest cultural museum in Northeast India. The museum building rises to form a flame to convey cultural communion for a better society.

            The initiative to set up DBCIC, a tribute to the people of Northeast India, can be traced to Rev. Fr. Egidio Vigano (Rector Major 1977-1995) and Rev. Fr. Juan Edmundo Vecchi (Rector Major 1996-2002), Rev. Fr. Luciano Odorico (Councillor for Missions), and to then Salesian Provincials of Guwahati. Fr. Sebastian Karotemprel did the pioneering work of getting the project started. Fr. Joseph Thelekkatt, Provincial of Guwahati (1990-96) blessed and laid the foundation stone of DBCIC on 27^th June 1994. The building structure was complete by the end of 2000. Mr. Vivek Varma from New Delhi was the architect. Fr. Kanattu Abraham did much of the supervision of the construction. The gathering of the artifacts and setting up of the galleries was done from 2000 to 2003. Dr. S.R Sarkar, the retired curator of the Indian Museum at Kolkata, directed the galleries.

            Rev. Fr. Juan E. Vecchi blessed the DBCIC in progress on 27^th February 1999. From the conception to the completion of the structure, the contribution of Fr. Sebastian Karotemprel is to be acknowledged. Fr. Puthenpurakal Joseph (PV), appointed Director of DBCIC on 03^rd January 2001, has set a noble vision and mission for the Centre and has spared no effort in the realization of it. From the beginning of 2004 DBCIC was opened to the public.

            The vision of DBCIC is to see a Northeast India enriched with the cultural heritage of all its tribes. This vision, translated into mission, consists of carrying forward meaningfully the Don Bosco Museum, research on cultures, publications, workshops, seminars and the application of multi-media. It would make DBCIC a Centre for Advanced Learning through a process of knowledge-sharing.

            In keeping with its vision and mission DBCIC functions as a catalyst for the cultural mosaic of the Northeast. Keeping in mind the words of Jesus, “I have come not to abolish them, but to complete them [read cultures]” (Mt 5:17), the DBCIC has taken up as its mission to be at the service of cultures in the light of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

STATISTICS

GALLERIES – JANUARY 2017

1. Alcoves Gallery
2. Mini Museum
3. Our Neighbours Gallery
4. Photo Gallery
5. Mission & Culture Gallery
6. Introduction and Pre-history Gallery
7. Land and People’s Gallery
8. Fishing, Hunting & Gathering Gallery
9. Agricultural Gallery
10. Traditional & Technology Gallery
11. Basketry Gallery
12. Musical Instruments Gallery
13. Religion & Culture Gallery
14. Weapons Gallery
15. Costumes & Ornaments Gallery
16. Don Bosco & Culture Gallery
17. Housing Pattern Gallery
18. Art Gallery
19. Media & Culture Gallery
20. Skywalk
21. Don Bosco Community Information Centre (under construction)