Guwahati: On 11 December 2023, the Rector Major, Rev. Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime, the 10th Successor of Don Bosco, announced the appointment of Rev. Fr. Sebastian Kuricheal SDB as the Provincial Designate of the Salesian Province of Mary Help of Christians, Guwahati (ING), succeeding Fr. Januarius Sangma, who has held the position since May 2018. The Salesian Province of Guwahati, located in the states of Assam and Meghalaya in India, boasts a vibrant community of 250 confreres spread across 38 Salesian communities, with a history dating back 101 years to the arrival of Salesian missionaries.
Currently serving as a Provincial Council member, Delegate of the Province for Salesian Family and Past Pupils, Schools, and Legal Aid, Fr. Sebastian brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He has been the Principal of Don Bosco School, Guwahati, since 2015, having previously served two terms as the Rector of the same institution. Fr. Sebastian’s pastoral journey includes stints as a Parish Priest in Jirikinding and Haflong, as well as serving as the principal of Don Bosco School Haflong. His priestly ministry commenced in Mawlai, Shillong, where he served as the Assistant Parish Priest.
Hailing from the southern state of Kerala, born in Kottayam in the diocese of Palai, Fr. Sebastian Kuricheal entered Salesian life with his novitiate and first profession in 1978 at Shillong. His philosophical studies took place at Sonada in the Province of Kolkata, and he completed his theological studies at Sacred Heart Theological College Shillong.
Fr. Sebastian is renowned for his dedication to the Salesian mission, especially for the welfare of the young and the poor. Described by his confreres as a calm, serene, and genuine Salesian, he has built a wide network of friends in ecclesiastical circles and civil society. Known for his affable nature, Fr. Sebastian combines simplicity and friendliness with sharp intellectual and administrative capabilities, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to hard work.
As the 13th Provincial of the Province of Guwahati, Fr. Sebastian Kuricheal is poised to continue the Salesian legacy in the region.
(IND Correspondent)