The Novitiate and Theologate are situated in and taken care of by the Province. The Trichy Province follows up the Pre-novitiate and the Philosopate. Most of the INM students are studying in our own formation houses.
Theologate - Don Bosco Theological Centre, Kavaraipettai
Novitiate - Idaya Deepam Novitiate, Yellagiri
Aspirantate - Don Bosco Aspirantate – Tirupattur
Geographical Regions Covered: Chennai, Tiruvannamalai, Vellore-Tirupattur,
Pondicherry-Cuddalore.
INM Salesian Vocation Programme (5 Steps)
First step: Visits to catholic schools and parishes for animation on Salesian religious call.
Second step: Contacting parents to gauge their interest in their son's vocation.
Third step: Organizing one-day winter Salesian vocation camps in different regions.
Fourth step: Visiting the candidate's home for family background and socio-economic assessment.
Fifth step: Hosting a mandatory 21-day summer vocation camp for candidate selection.
Salesian Vocation Camps: Winter Camp in December & Summar Camp in April & May.
Becchi Don Bosco is a Theologate. The academic wing is named Don Bosco Theological Centre. It offers a three-year course in Theology and a year of pastoral courses. The Centre is affiliated with the Faculty of Theology of the Salesian Pontifical University (UPS), Rome. It began in 2009 at Poonamallee and was shifted to its present location in 2010. True to its motto "In Christ for Humanity", it strives to offer a holistic formation directed towards equipping candidates to be Salesian envoys of Christ for humankind, especially the poor youth.
It is primarily a Salesian formation house. But it also accepts students from other religious congregations. Nuns and lay people can also join the courses.
Don Bosco Idaya Deepam is a Salesian Novitiate situated on Yellagiri Hills, Tirupattur District. Yellagiri Hills is a range of mountains which has an altitude of 1100 mts above Mean Sea Level. It is neither too hot nor too cold and hence it provides a conducive ambient for study, prayer and discernment.
The Novitiate was constructed in the 1990’s and the first batch of novices moved in here from Vellakinar, Coimbatore in May 1994. Yellagiri Hills was already familiar with Don Bosco through the work of Fr. Francis Guezou SDB, a French missionary who arrived on the hills in 1961 at the behest of Msgr. Louis Mathias SDB, the Archbishop of Madras- Mylapore. We are grateful to Fr. Guezou SDB who built this novitiate house through a generous contribution of his friend Mr. Leon Duhayon, lovingly called as Papa Duhayon.
The 14 villages of the hills provide a scope for the novices to do their Evening study apostolate on Tuesdays. On Wednesdays the Novices also teach Moral Science in the Group of St. Charles Schools. There is another Salesian Community on the Yellagiri Hills at Athanavoor where Fr. Guezou is buried, with a boarding for hill boys, an Arts & Science College with separate hostels for boys and girls, a parish, and an IT Company. They help and support the Novitiate Community. The Novitiate functions for one full year from May 24 to May 24 for every batch of Novices and their first profession takes place on May 24.
Salesian Missionary Vocation: Radical expression of pastoral charity based on Don Bosco's Charism. INM Salesian Missionary Animation Commission: Intern and extern members working to revive missionary enthusiasm. It reaches the formation of houses, boardings, colleges, hostels, and parishes to initiate missionary groups. Cagliero 11 newsletter and mission intentions are shared monthly via WhatsApp. A video presentation on Salesian missionary Fr. Vasanth was circulated. Salesian Mission Day is celebrated at Don Bosco Aspirantate community.