By Mukhim Bivan
Guwahati, October 8, 2025 — In a stirring celebration of compassion and commitment, Snehalaya—the “House of Love” and Young at Risk (YaR) centre of the Salesian Guwahati Province—marked its Silver Jubilee on Wednesday, commemorating 25 years of transformative service to marginalized and vulnerable children.
The milestone event unfolded at the Social Forum Auditorium in Kharghuli, beginning with a solemn Holy Mass that gathered YaR delegates from across South Asia, along with priests, religious sisters, and lay collaborators who have journeyed with Snehalaya through its quarter-century mission.
Presiding over the Eucharistic celebration, Archbishop John Moolachira of Guwahati, offered a poignant tribute to the Salesian community and its enduring legacy of love. “They bear with the children, their contribution of harm and naughtiness, yet they go ahead and take their sides,” he reflected, capturing the radical empathy and patient resilience that define Snehalaya’s ethos.
Founded by Salesian Fr Lukose Cheruvalel, Snehalaya has grown into a sanctuary for children abandoned, abused, or at risk—offering not just shelter, but dignity, education, and hope. Under his leadership, five homes now operate under the Snehalaya banner, each embodying the mission of accompaniment and healing.
Though not a formal member of the Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (ASCPCR), Fr Cheruvalel has been a tireless advocate for juvenile justice and child protection. His civil society engagement has included organizing forums such as the Civil Society Leaders Meet, where he urged stakeholders to uphold child rights across families, schools, and administrative structures. His collaborative work with ASCPCR and other bodies has significantly shaped child welfare discourse in the region.
Archbishop Moolachira commended this prophetic witness, urging the community to remain “generous in their services to the poor and the marginalized.” Addressing the children present, he invoked the Gospel image of young ones brought to Jesus for blessing, encouraging them to seek strength in faith and remain open to divine love.
The Silver Jubilee was not merely a celebration of years, but a reaffirmation of Snehalaya’s founding vision: to be a beacon of light in the shadows of neglect, a home where every child is seen, heard, and healed. As the centre steps into its next chapter, the gathering stood as a living testament to what faith in action can achieve—a community where love is not abstract, but incarnate.
In a time when children’s rights are often eclipsed by systemic apathy, Snehalaya’s journey reminds us that justice begins with accompaniment, and that the most radical act of charity is to stand by the wounded and walk with them toward wholeness.