History
The Manipur mission began with Salesians coming over to Imphal to stay. All the missionary activities were carried our from there. On 9th March 1956, Fr. Aloysius Ravalico and Fr. Peter Bianchi took up residence in a rented house on the outskirts of Imphal. On 7th May 1956 when Mr. Palit, the Superintendent of Police left for Bengal, his house was obtained for the mission and Fr. Ravalico and Fr. Bianchi moved to that house christened Nirmalabas (Abode of the Immaculate). Soon the ‘Palit Bhavan became a boarding with a few boys and attended the public school. They conducted Catechists’ Training programmes. Nirmalabas being too small, a large piece of land was bought in August 1956 at Chingmeirong, near the approach road to Imphal. On 31st January 1958, Fr. Ravalico and Fr.Venturoli shifted their residence from Nirmalabas to Chingmeirong, the newly constructed Don Bosco Youth Centre. The number of boys in the boarding kept increasing, soon touching the mark of eighty, and belonging to 15 different tribes. Diocesan priests came to assist the Salesians: Fr. Joseph Kachiramattam (from July 1958), Fr. Mathew Planthottam (from June 1959). The year 1961 also saw the arrival of Fr. Mani Parenkulangara, another diocesan priest. The first batch of Matric students appeared for the public examinations in 1965. The new church of Mary Immaculate at Chingmeirong was blessed on 24th May 1961 by Mgr. Orestes Marengo.
Today
There are a number of presences in Manipur. They are:
1. Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Chingmeirong, Imphal (St. Dominic Savio – 1958: Hr. School, Parish, Youth Centre, Hostel, Boarding, NGO, Past Pupils, Cooperators, Bosco Mangaal, DBTech etc)
2. Holy Trinity Parish, Lamphel, Imphal (Don Bosco- 2010: Parish, School, Youth Animation)3. Don Bosco School, Khoupum Valley (St. John Bosco – 1981: Parish, School, Youth Animation, Boarding)
4. Don Bosco College, Maram (St. John Bosco – 2000: College, Bosco Institute of Information Technology, Human Resource Centre, Community College, Bosco Vocational Training Centre, IGNOU, Hostel, Higher Secondary School etc)
4. Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Maram (St. John Bosco – 1982: Hr. School, Parish, Youth Centre, Hostel, Boarding, Past Pupils etc)
In 2007, there are over 1100 students and 32 teachers in the School. 125 students and 7 lay teachers are Catholics. A boarding for boys is run by the Salesians. There are 40 boarders in the boys boarding run by the Salesians. Because of the problems and challenges existing in Imphal new ways of carrying out the mission is sought. The centre carries out activities like Literacy Programme, Intensive Course, Mobile Literacy, Counselling Service, Vocational Sponsorship, Youth Centre, Primary Teachers Training, Compartmental Coaching, Educational Sponsorship, Youth Animation, Health Awareness Programme, Health Services, Picnic and Exposure for Physically Handicap, Life Skill Education, Village Development Leaders, Youth Animation cum Exposure to Imphal, Career Guidance, Matching Grants, Disaster Management, Self-Help Groups, Aids Awareness and Training Programme.
Activities
Parish, Pastoral work and Evangelisation, Youth Centre, Cooperators, Chaplaincies, High School, Boarding for boys, Intensive Education, Literacy Programme, Youth Animation, SHGs, Counscelling in Schools, Prison Ministry, Child sponsorship, Teachers Training, Adoption of schools.
Address
Don Bosco School
P.B. 9, Chingmeirong,
Imphal – 795 001
Manipur
Phone
(0385) 2422884 / 2421314
imp_donching@sancharnet.in
