NAVJEEVAN CHURCH – CHANDIGARH
12December2011


NAVJEEVAN CHURCH, CHANDIGARH

Diocese of Simla – Chandigarh 2001

Historical Perspective

NavjeevanChurch / Don Bosco Centre, the Salesian presence at Chandigarh was begun on 6th January 2001, the concluding day of the Great Jubilee. The name of the church itself has reference to new life in Christ. The newly built church was blessed and inaugurated on this day by Bishop Gerald John Mathias of Shimla-Chandigarh diocese.

It was at the invitation of the then Bishop, Rt. Rev. Gilbert Rego, that the province accepted to have a Salesian presence in Chandigarh. There were a lot of difficulties with regard to the purchase of the land and formalities with the Government had to be settled before we could take possession of the land. It was Fr. Joy Marangattikala (M.M) who did all the groundwork for the Salesians to take possession of the land that was originally allotted to the diocese. By his hard work and perseverance, he was able to clear all the hurdles. Once the land was allotted to us, Fr. Joseph Chittattukalam (C.A) did the supervision of the entire building work. As a result we have the beautifully built NavjeevanChurch and Don Bosco Centre in Chandigarh.

Service

Mass Centre

At present, Navjeevan Church serves as a Mass centre for the Catholics of nearby areas. The centre also offers courses and seminars in Catechetics, Youth Ministry and other related topics for young people, teachers, religious and lay leaders. It also offers marriage encounter programmes for the Catholic youth of Chandigarh.

Social work

Don Bosco Centre offers life skills and personality development programmes for youngsters, especially from the slums / colonies. Basic and advanced computer literacy programmes twinned with spoken English classes are conducted on a daily basis from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

One of the salient features of the centre is the help offered to school dropout girls to pass their class X, XII, Graduation exams through Panjab University. Post-Graduation studies (MA) is in the process of planning.

Functional literacy programmes are held in 17 slums of Chandigarh. Non-formal vocational training is offered in driving, cosmetology, cutting and stitching and through self-help projects. There are nearly 100 self-help groups with a membership of more than 1800.

The work for the young at risk got a real boost under His excellency General (Retd) S.F.Rodrigues, the former Governor of Punjab and the Administrator of the the U.T of Chandigarh and his wife, Madam Jean Rodrigues. A children’s village was set up with housing facility for 300 girls and 600 boys. The entire expense is met by the U.T. Administration. They sought the collaboration of the Salesians to run it efficiently. At present there are about 83 girls and 176 boys. Besides academic studies, great emphasis is laid on vocational training.

A centre for dyslexic children is being conducted at Sector 47. There are about 43 children attending day shelter cum class.

The state of Haryana has come in a big way to us offering in the running of an IDU project for the district of Ambala. The Project started in the month of April 2010.

Salesian Staff

Fr. Sebastian Vadakkethannickal         In-Charge, Director
Fr. Kujur Eldefonce                                 Asst Director
Fr. Choudhury Swanoop Dev                Asst Director
Fr. Kujur Alingjor                                    Asst Director

Contact

Navjeevan Church
Don Bosco
Sector 24 B
Chandigarh – 160 023

(0172) 2711 537  -  House
(0172) 2783789 / 09888484898  -  Director


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.