New Delhi, Okhla, Feb. 18, 2018: Extraordinary visitation was inaugurated by Fr. Maria Arokiam, the Regional Councillor for South Asia at Provincial House, Okhla, New Delhi on Feb. 18, 2018 at 6.00 p.m.
“…In particular he will arrange for an extraordinary visitation of every province during his six-year term of office” (Art. 104). Welcoming Fr. Maria Arokiam, Fr. Jose Mathew, the Provincial of New Delhi said that ‘it is a moment of communion.’ He was presented with a bouquet by Fr. Naresh Kujur, the Vice-Provincial and a shawl by Fr. K.C. John, the Economer. The Rectors and confreres of Delhi region attended this inaugural function of the visit.
Fr. Maria Arokiam in his speech at the start of this visitation shared news from Rome and Generalate and Rector Major’s visit to Africa. This was his second extraordinary visit to the province and he conveyed the good news about the opportunity given to every Salesians for a pilgrimage to Turin and Holy Land for a period of ten days.
The main purpose of the visitation is to know and establishing personal relationship with the confreres; to strengthen mutual communion in the province, communion of the province with the Rector Major and among confreres; to know more about the work in the province; to render a fraternal service of verification and animation.
He also shared about the ten immediate concerns of the congregation: return to the basics of religious life; return to the poor; return to fraternity; vocation and formation; re-signification of our work; transparency in administration; lay participation in our mission; promote salesian family; dwindling missionary spirit and concerns of elevating a culture of intellectual life.
Fr. Maria gave time to the confreres to share or to express opinions regarding the visitation or even to point out certain matters concerning the province that needs to be looked into. It was a meaningful interaction. At 7.30 p.m. there was a prayer service which was followed by dinner for all.