Shillong, 9 September 2026: Savio Juniorate was privileged to welcome Fr. Rafael Bejarano SDB, General Councillor for Youth Ministry, on 9 September 2026. He was accompanied by Fr. Patrick Lepcha, South Asia Delegate for Youth Ministry, and Fr. Ritonbor Kharkongor, Shillong Province Delegate for Youth Ministry. Their visit was a moment of joy, encouragement and inspiration for the entire community.
Fr. Rafael celebrated the Holy Eucharist for the community of Savio Juniorate. In his homily, he especially addressed the 172 apostolic boys, encouraging them to take seriously the process of discernment of their vocation. He reminded them that vocation is a call from God and that young people need to listen attentively, pray, reflect and seek guidance in order to discover God’s plan for their lives. His words encouraged the boys to remain open to God’s call and to grow in faith, responsibility and commitment.
Following the Eucharistic celebration, the community organised a felicitation programme to honour Fr. Rafael and welcome the visiting delegates. The programme included a lively musical presentation by the Savio Band, followed by a beautiful choir performance by the Class 9 boys.
Speaking during the felicitation, Fr. Patrick Lepcha encouraged the boys to learn from others without merely copying them. He emphasized the importance of imitating what is good, improving what already exists, and innovating with creativity, so that each person may become authentic, responsible and productive in life.
The visit of Fr. Rafael and the delegates was truly a memorable and enriching experience for the entire Savio Juniorate community.
Reported by Fr Patrick Khupzaliana
