JOY OF THE YOUNG

RECTOR MAJOR'S AWARD 2026

BOOK RELEASE

the eucharist

PERPETUAL PROFESSION

CL UTTAM MURMU SDB

SALESIAN FAMILY DAY KOLKATA 2026

SALESIAN FAMILY DAY SILIGURI 2026

ARCHBISHOP OF KOLKATA IN PROVINCIAL HOUSE

DON BOSCO ALUMNI: BOSCO ON WHEELS

FR. RECTOR MAJOR

GENERAL COUNCIL MEMBERS

INC WITH RECTOR MAJOR

REV. FR. FABIO ATTARD

11 successor of don bosco

SALESIAN YOUTH MOVEMENT

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH FEST CHENNAI 2024-25

FOR YOU I STUDY

FOR YOU I WORK

FOR YOU I LIVE

FOR YOU I AM READY EVEN TO GIVE MY LIFE

YOUNG SALESIANS

HIGHER EDUCATION

SKILL TRAINING

ASHALAYAM YOUTH

SALESIAN YOUTH SPIRITUALITY

YOUTH FEST 2023

PAST PUPILS

YOUTH @ PRAYER

SALESIANS

SALESIAN FAMILY

BANDEL BASILICA

SCHOOLS

Celebrating Our Heritage

Centenary Celebration

Venerable Francis Convertini

A Life of Faith and Service

Venerable Francis Convertini

Childhood and youth during war years

Francis Convertini was born in Marinelli close to Cisternino, in the province of Brindisi, on August 29, 1898. His family was very poor, and from his earliest years, he was forced to go to work. As soon as he turned 18, he was called to arms to fight in the First World War. He was captured by the Austrians and sent to a concentration camp. He was freed only at the end of the war. After recovering from meningitis, he decided to join the Guardia di Finanza.

Confession in Turin at the Basilica of MHC led him to the Salesians

He followed the Captain, whose aide he was, to Turin and, devoted to Mary, went to confession in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians. Providence saw that his confessor was Fr. Angelo Amadei, the second great biographer of Don Bosco. Fr. Angelo became his spiritual director.

Accepts invitation to be missionary in India

After inviting him to attend the handing over of the missionary cross to eleven missionaries leaving for India, he said to him: “Why don’t you also become a missionary?” Francis took on studies with much effort at the Salesian missionary institute in Ivrea and, after receiving his mission cross from Don Rinaldi, on December 7, 1927, he embarked for India.

Learned how to be a holy missionary close to the people

He was formed by holy Salesians. He did his novitiate at Shillong with Fr. Ferrando and was a disciple of Fr. Costantino Vendrame. Francis learned of Don Bosco’s life from Fr. Amadei and in India learned how to incarnate his apostolic missionary spirit. He felt close to the people with Fr. Vendrame: they covered many miles visiting villages, going into homes to talk about Jesus. He finished his philosophy and theology with some difficulty. And was ordained priest in 1935. The new bishop, Bishop Ferrando sent him to the Salesian mission in Krishnagar.

Widely appreciated and loved

Even though he never got to know the Behali language so well, nobody in Krishnagar had as many friends as he did, or as many spiritual children amongst the ignorant and the wise, the rich and the poor. He was one of the few missionaries who was able to enter a Hindu home and get further than the entrance.

He was constantly on the go between villages. Fr. Francis was good, and his Salesian loving-kindness opened the people’s hearts; he knew how to be a Father, brother and friend. He gave himself to everyone without distinction: Muslim, Hindu, Christian…, and was loved and venerated by everyone as a master of the interior life, who abundantly possessed the “sapientia cordis.”

Apostle of Mary Help of Christians

Already in life he was known for his holiness, not only because of his heroic self-giving for souls, but also for the mysterious events told about him. He was an apostle of Mary Help of Christians.

He died on February 11, 1976 murmuring: “Mother Mary, I never displeased you during my life. Now help me!” His body was laid out in the cathedral, and there was a constant crowd of people of every race and religion. Now he lies in the garden adjacent to the Cathedral of Krishnagar.

Kolkata Province History

Journey Through Time

Our Founder

Don Bosco was born in a tiny little village called Becchi in northern Italy, on August 16, 1815. From an early age, he was drawn toward helping poor children. At the age of 9 he had a dream in which it was revealed to him that his life’s mission would be to help poor and disadvantaged youngsters. In 1835 he entered the seminary and supported himself by working as a tailor, blacksmith, shoemaker, carpenter, violinist, acrobat, and magician. All these talents came in handy during his lifetime of working with youngsters. He was ordained a priest on June 5, 1841, and settled down in the city of Turin. On December 8, 1841, he met an orphan Bartolomew Garelli, who became his first pupil. From that day Don Bosco’s work grew rapidly and he set up several homes and schools for poor and disadvantaged boys in Italy as well as in other parts of the world. Don Bosco died on January 31, 1888, and was canonized in 1934 as the Apostle of Youth.

Mission and Vision

We, the Salesians of St. John Bosco in the Province of Calcutta, are signs and bearers of God's love to young people, especially the poor, following Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, in imitation of our Father. Responding to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, at the service of the Synodal Church, under the guidance of Mary our Mother, with Don Bosco our founder's attitudes and style, we see ourselves moving towards the centenary united as a community of consecrated men, enriched by our diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. We strive, according to our specific charism of education and evangelization, to creatively address and uphold the cause and dignity of the poor and the marginalized, especially the young. Walking together with the young and the members of the Salesian Family and the lay collaborators, including those of other religious persuasions, through reciprocal formation, shared responsibility and accountability, we experience a greater commitment to our mission. Thus, we proclaim and realize God's Kingdom of love, peace and justice in Bangladesh, India and Nepal.

Don Bosco Development Society, Calcutta (DBDOC), a not-for-profit organization aspires to change the lives of the underprivileged by enhancing their dignity and well-being. Established in 1997, DBDOC was created with the aim of eradicating poverty, ignorance and malnutrition among poor and marginalized communities.

Inspired by the Founder Don Bosco, the social development wing of the Salesian Province of Kolkata is dedicated to catalyzing social and economic change so that all human beings must have the same opportunity to succeed in life, irrespective of where they were born or live. DBDOC acts as a catalyst to bring about changes in the lives of underprivileged children, youth and families as a whole by empowering and enabling them to ensure inclusiveness, equality and dignity at par with society.

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