Don Rafael Bejarano, the New General Councilor for Youth Pastoral Ministry convened the first online meeting with the Youth Delegate of Don Bosco Animation South Asia and his core team on 16 June 2025 at 02:30 pm. The participants were namely the coordinators of Four Dimension of Salesian Youth Ministry: Fr. John Parankimalil, Coordinator of Educational and Cultural Dimension; Fr. Francisco Pareira, Coordinator of Education to Faith Dimension, Fr. Gabriel Karunaraj, Coordinator of Vocational Dimension and Fr. Patrick Lepcha, coordinator of Social Experience Dimension.
The meeting began with a Hail Mary prayer asking the presence and the protection of Mother Mary in our lives and the mission. After the prayer and a short introduction, Don Rafael made a special announcement. The news was that Fr. George Thadathil (INC) who is the coordinator of IUS (Salesian Institutions of Higher Education) will coordinate the youth ministry department of South Asia region. So far, it was being coordinated by Fr. Joebeth Vivo who hails from Philippines.
Fr. Rafael in his opening remark mentioned that we all need to work as coordinators and normal Salesians. He emphasizes that we need to respect every region and province of our Congregation and learn from each other. He appreciates the fact that South Asia Region is organized well with specific department which function in unison. He expressed that we not do the mission they but have to be measured as per the impact they create in the society around.
The congregation is waiting for the Final Document of the General Chapter 29 to draw concrete vision for the next six years. It is seen that the emphasis is being given to the Ratio in which youth will have an important part together with vocational properties of the congregation. There will be also international seminars organized by the higher education department for all educational institutions on the Preventive System in the later part of the year. He also called for a better cooperation among the Networks within the region and provinces.
Fr. Patrick Lepcha presented the whole organigram of youth ministry in South Asia and future plans in collaboration with various Networks of South Asia. He advocated that the main focus will be the implementation of the guidelines of GC29. Likewise, Fr. John Parankimalil, Fr. Francisco Pareira and Fr. Gabriel Karunaraj presented their dimensions with present situation and future plans to animate and strengthen each dimension in collaboration with all the provinces.
Overall, it was a pleasant and effective meeting with Don Rafael, Fr. Joebeth Vivo and Fr. George Thadathil. Don Rafael provided this opportunity to share our vision, work and plans for our region and for the congregation at large. The advantage of staying in effective communication of sharing the aspirations and vision was visible and tangible. This will enable all to work as a team breaking barriers of distance, time and finance.
We expressed our gratitude to Fr. Joebeth Vivo for guiding and supporting our region for the last three years with love and dedication. We wish him well as he continues to coordinate the works of East Asia Oceania Region. We welcome whole heartedly Fr. George Thadathil as the coordinator and lesion between the South Asia Region and Rome our Headquarter of Salesian Youth Ministry.
If you want to fast, go alone but if you want to go far, go together.