By Matters India Reporter

Turin, March 13, 2020: The Salesians of Don Bosco congregation has decided to wind up midway its 28th general chapter in view of the coronavirus pandemic.

The apex body of the world’s second largest Catholic religious congregation for men began the six-yearly meet on February 15.

The theme of the chapter is ”What type/kind of Salesians for the young people of today?”

As many as 242 delegates of 66 nationalities and representing the seven regions spread over more than 130 countries are currently attending the meet in Turin, a major city in Italy. The meet was originally scheduled to end on April 4.

However, the congregation decided to end the chapter on March 14, at least 18 days ahead.

Italy is one of the countries in Europe badly hit by the virus.

The Salesian chapter however conducted its election on March 13, a day before its closure.

Current Rector Major, or superior general, Father Ángel Fernández Artime, originally from Spain, has been re-elected for a second term.

Father Biju Michael Pulianmackal, registrar of the Assam Don Bosco University in India, was elected the South Asia Regional Councilor.

Father Pulianmackal of Guwahati province, popularly known as Father Biju Michael, succeeds Father Maria Arokiam Kanaga of Chennai province, who served in the same post two terms (a total of 12 years).

Father Michael is a delegate of the Guwahati Salesian province at the chapter. He has been a delegate since 2016.

Another Indian Salesian from Bombay Province Father Ivo Coelho was confirmed for a second six-year term as general councilor for formation.

Italian Salesian Father Stefano Martoglio was elected vicar of the Rector Major for 2020-2026. Until now, he was councilor for the Mediterranean region.

Spanish Salesian Father Miguel Angel García Morcuende is councilor for Youth Ministry, having served in the same Department between 2010 and 2017.

Brazilian Salesian Father Gildásio Mendes dos Santos, newly appointed provincial of Belo Horizonte is elected as general councilor for Social Communication.

Father Alfred Maravilla, currently superior of the Vice Province of Papua New Guinea-Solomon Islands (PGS), originally from the Philippines is elected as general councilor for Missions.

Bro Jean Paul Muller, Salesian Lay Brother from Luxembourg is reconfirmed as Economer General for a second six year term.

Father Michael, the new South Asia representative, had defended his doctoral thesis in Moral Theology on ”Defending Nascent Life in India: A Study on the Role of Catholic Healthcare” at Academia Alfonsiana, Rome, a decade ago. His guides E. Kowalski from Poland and V. Tirimanna from Sri Lanka highly appreciated “the depth of research, scholarship and the competence of the student.”

Father Michael has experience in youth ministry in northeastern India. He teaches philosophy at Salesian College Dimapur, and moral theology at Sacred Heart Theological College, Shillong. He is also professor and president of the International Salesian Theologate at Ratisbone, Jerusalem. Besides his doctorate in Moral Theology, he holds a master’s degree in philosophy and another master’s in English literature.

He has authored books such as Youth Vision: Guidelines for Youth Ministry in Northeast India; Jesus Ways to Success, Catholic Health Care and Abortions in India: the Challenge of Defending Life from Conception, Integrity: the Core of Leadership, Abortions in the land of ahimsā Civilians in the Line of Fire in the Light of Catholic Social Teaching, and Mercy Without Boundaries.