DON BOSCO CENTRE, KERENG
12December2011


DON BOSCO CENTRE, KERENG

Diocese of Gumla – 1987

Historical Perspective

The Salesians set foot in Kereng in 1987. The Archbishop of Ranchi, (Now Cardinal), Telesphore P. Toppo invited the Salesians to take up the mission of Kereng and make it a “Parish with a Diffrence.” Fr. Doulous D’lima was sent to the place in 1987 to take stock of the situation. At that time, there was a tin roofed village Church and a primary school up to Class V. In May 1988, the Salesians officially took up the centre and Fr. V.P. Jose joined Fr. Doulous as incharge and Parish Priest. In 1992, residence for the Salesians was built. In the same year, Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, came to Kereng and opened hostel for girls and a much needed dispensary for the health care. They now actively collaborate with Salesians to make Kereng “a parish with a difference.”

Services

School True to the Salesian way of modus operandi, the first priority was given to education and in a span of three years; the Salesians turned the erstwhile mud house of Primary school into a pucca building. It was blessed in 1991. Presently, the primary school has grown; coaching classes are given up to Class 10. There are over 720 tribal children studying there. Ever since the Salesians took up the school, the standard of education has improved greatly.

Parish

The last one to be built was a place for prayer and worship. The newly built parish Church dedicated to St. Joseph was blessed on 14th December, 1997 by Rt. Rev. Michael Minj, Bishop of Gumla in the presence of Fr. K.A. Joseph, the Provincial, a large number of Salesians, priests, religious and about 5000 Christians. Kereng has 7 villages, with approximately 360 Catholic families.

Hostel

The Salesians opened a hostel for boys in 2000, as many of the children found it difficult to attend school coming from their villages. The sisters of St. Charles Borromeo run a hostel for girls.

Development Programmes The Don Bosco Centre owes much to the dynamic leadership of Fr. V.P. Jose who saw to the integral development of the centre. It was through his initiative that Child Fund India came to Kereng. With the help of Child Fund India a great deal of developmental work is beng done in the 7 villages belonging to Kereng parish as well as in the villages of neighbouring parishes. Some of the development activities are:

  • Health Care & Sanitation
  • Basic Education Programme in 50 villages
  • Aanganbadi Schools in 72 villages
  • Children’s Club
  • Youth Club
  • Awareness Programme on Child Labour, Malarian, Aids etc.
  • Movement against “Adolescent Girls Trafficking”
  • NREGA Awareness Programme
  • Livelihood Economic Empowerment
  • Soil Conservation and Fertility maintenance
  • Scientific Agricultural Method
  • Water Harvesting / Check Dams/ Digging of Wells
  • Kichen Garden, Small Orchid
  • Tuition Centers & Remedial Classes
  • Computer Literacy Programmes
  • Drop Out Coaching Centres
  • Career Guidance
  • Life Coping Skills

Salesian Staff

Fr. Vijay Soy                    Parish Priest & CFI
Fr. Anand Pr. Ekka         Headmaster
Br. Ignatius Kerketta   

Contact

Don Bosco Centre
Kereng, Chainpur P.O.
Gumla Dt.,
Jharkhand – 835 206

06535 – 290002  -  House


Provincial Speaks

The Province of Good Shepherd, New Delhi, has completed just 11 years. Our strength is 14 regular houses and 10 presences with 160 confreres. The geographical area under our care is very vast : 12 states and one Union Territory, where the youth in significant numbers are illiterate and poor, and the total Catholic population is a mere 0.4% that is 2 million.

We are aware that, with our present limited human and material resources, we may not be able to reach out to big numbers, but, as mother Teresa would say, we believe that, though we are but a drop in the ocean, still, if that drop is not there, the ocean is not full. We do wish to make a difference where we are present by being ‘Salt and Light’. We interpret the location of the Provincial House in the capital of the nation as a God-given exposure demanding great vocational responsibility. We feel indeed like the biblical ‘city on the mountain tip’ called to bear witness to Don Bosco and his spirit in an authentic way.