The book ‘Don Bosco in Mangalore’ authored by Sr. Philomena released

The book ‘Don Bosco in Mangalore’ authored by Sr. Philomena released

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Sep 6, 2016: Father Maria Arokiam Kanaga SDB, Regional Councillor for South Asia launched the book “Don Bosco in Mangalore - Before the arrival of the Salesians” by Philomena D’Souza, FMA published by Tej-Prasarini, Don Bosco Communications, Mumbai in the presence of all the Major Salesian Superiors of South Asia on August 30th, 2016 at Don Bosco Provincial House in Bangalore. Sister Piera Cavaglia FMA, FMA Secretary General was invited as the special Guest of Honour.

Father Mathew Kapplikunnel SDB, the Secretary of ACSSA South Asia moderated the panel discussion. The panel consisted of Sister Alice Chacko FMA, Former English Professor of Auxilium College, Vellore giving the highlights and the significance of the book. She enumerated on Chapter 1: Brief socio-ecclesial history of the Mangalore Catholic Community, Chapter 2: The Don Bosco presences in the undivided diocese of Mangalore - Institutions and Organisations started before the arrival of the Salesian Family and on Chapter 3: The First Vocations to the Salesian way of life from the Mangalore Catholic Community. Father Mahimai Das SDB, The Church History Professor of Kristu Jyoti College, Bengaluru presenting the critical review of the book, gave his observations and remarks.   Both the panelist congratulated Philomena D’Souza FMA for her hard work and appreciated her research to preserve the hidden treasure of the past especially for the Mangalorean Catholic history.

Don Bosco in Mangalore - before the arrival of the Salesians: this was a story that needed to be told long before.  There is so much of interesting data and so many significant connections between Don Bosco and Mangalore, already from the time of the Saint Don Bosco himself, that I wonder how it all remained unheard of for such a long time… and now that the book is published, I feel like the Mission is accomplished and the journey continues” said Philomena D’Souza FMA

The book Don Bosco in Mangalore is the fruit of a research undertaken during the bicentenary of the birth of Don Bosco to assess the impact of Don Bosco’s charism on the Church and the world. The main part of this research was presented in Turin in October 2015 and was published for an international audience. The book documents the Don Bosco Institutions and organisations, up and running, in the diocese of Mangalore even before the arrival of the Salesians, placing them in the socio-ecclesial framework of the Mangalorean Catholic Community.

About the Author: Sr. Philomena D’Souza, an FMA of the Mumbai province, has a Masters in Psychology from the Pontifical Faculty of Sciences of Education Rome and has done significant work in the field of Youth Ministry and Women Empowerment. One of her books on Mary, Behold the Woman was recognised by the Pontifical Marian Academy and was awarded by Pope St. John Paul II in Oct. 2002. She is also a member of the ACSSA, an International Association of the Promoters of Salesian History. She can be contacted at philudsouza@gmail.com

Advance Praise: Barely a year after the first missionary expedition to South America in 1875, Don Bosco began dreaming of going to Mangalore, at the invitation of the Holy Father. His Daughters reached there only in 1985, and his Sons in 1997. But Don Bosco seems to have been associated with Mangalore in more ways than one, and Sr. Philomena traces for us the remarkable story of this presence. - Fr.  Ivo Coelho SDB, General Councillor for Formation, Rome.

Don Bosco inspired! The youth of Mangalore fired with the zeal to preserve their language and culture find their stories in the pages of Sr. Philomena’s work. - Prof. Dr. Fleur D’Souza, Former Vice-Principal and Retired Head of the Dept. of History, St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.