India – The Salesian Province of St. Thomas the Apostle, Chennai (INM)

Posted On: 05 April, 2025


The Salesian Province of St. Thomas the Apostle, Chennai (INM), with its 91-year history, is a beacon of hope and transformation in Tamil Nadu and beyond. Rooted in the vision of St. John Bosco, the province has dynamically evolved to meet the needs of the times, providing holistic education, social empowerment, and pastoral care. With a vast network of schools, colleges, technical institutes, parishes, and social service centers, INM continues to serve marginalized communities and nurture young minds.

The Early Years: Foundations of the Province

The Salesian mission in Tamil Nadu began in 1906, and by 1934, the Indian Province was bifurcated into two regions: the Province of North India, patroned by St. John Bosco, and the Province of South India, dedicated to St. Thomas the Apostle. The newly formed South India Province, under the leadership of Fr. Edigio Cinato, initially comprised 49 professed members across 17 Salesian presences, including the prominent houses in Tardeo (Bombay), St. Mary’s (Madras), Vellore, and Tirupattur. The Provincial House was based in Vellore, and the Novitiate had just begun functioning in Tirupattur.

The Province of Chennai (INM) today comprises of the Union States of Puducherry and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the following districts of Tamil Nadu: Chennai, Chengalpattu, Dharmapuri, Karaikal, Tiruvallur, Kallakurichi, Kanchipuram, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, Tiruvannamalai, Vizhupuram, Krishnagiri, Cuddalore, Nilgiris, part of Erode district (Thalavadi) and that of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Transforming Lives Through Education

Education forms the cornerstone of the Chennai Province’s mission, empowering thousands of young minds through schools, colleges, and vocational training.

  • School Education: 44 institutions educate over 33,000 students, fostering intellectual, moral, and spiritual growth. KALVISOLAI, the province educational and cultural center enhances education through training and development programs for teachers and students.

  • Higher Education: 12 colleges, including arts, science, polytechnic, and agriculture institutions, serve nearly 11,000 students annually.

  • Technical Institutes: 6 centers train 770 youth in specialized trades for immediate employment.

Development and Skill Training

The province has specialized centres that equips young minds with essential life skills, career guidance, and creative opportunities, fostering holistic growth and empowerment. They are:

  • Psychological Counseling (NIRAIVAGAM): Offers counseling, psychotherapy, and training to promote holistic well-being.

  • Media Education (DBICA – Don Bosco Institute of Communication Arts): Provides courses in photography, audio editing, and theater arts, including a satellite center for rural youth in Vellore.

  • Career Guidance (Don Bosco VAZHIKAATTI): Guides youth in career choices, skill training, and job placement.

  • Software Training (BosoSoft): Equips youth with computer skills and software development expertise, helping create educational software for institutions.

Printing and Publications

  • SIGA – Salesian Institute of Graphic Arts and DB SAGAI offer training and diploma courses and non-formal training in the field of Printing technology.

  • Arumbu Publication and Don Bosco Publications produce magazines, books, and materials that promote Christian principles and Salesian values.

  • The Province publishes three monthly magazines: Salesian Bulletin in English and Arumbu, and Salesian Seithi Malar in Tamil.

Spiritual Formation

The Province nurtures spiritual growth and faith formation through dedicated training centers offering various services.

  • Formation Houses: The province has two Aspirantates, a Novitiate, and the Don Bosco Theological Centre, affiliated to the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome, offers three-year theology courses and one-year pastoral training with 50+ students and 11 qualified professors.

  • Parish Ministry: 20 parishes serve over 8,900 families, and nearly 6000 in substations serving the faith needs and offeringcatechism to children, youth, and parishioners.

  • Catechesis (DEEPAGAM): the Don Bosco Catechetical Centre for faith and value formation offers animation programs, catechetical training, and publication of religious materials.

  • Eco-Spirituality: Inspired by Laudato Si, of Pope Francis, there are eco clubs in schools and programs are offered at the DB Centre in Yelagiri Hills to promote ecological awareness.

  • Retreat & Spirituality Centers: The province has three centers—Mount Don Bosco (Kotagiri), DBYAC (Ennore), and Arulodayam (Katupadi), which offer ongoing retreats and spiritual renewal.

Youth Engagement

The Province actively engages youth through education, care, and enrichment programs, fostering the growth, safety, and creative potential of the young people, through:

  • Oratories & Youth Centers: The province has 12 centers that serve nearly 1500 youth, providing education, recreation, and faith development.

  • Orphanages & Shelter Homes: The province has 5 centers for youth at-risk  and three service centers provide hope to vulnerable children, with 630 benefiting from residential care and 10,000 more through non-residential programs.

  • Boarding & Hostels: 13 facilities house over 5,300 young people from marginalized communities, often serving as cradles for Salesian vocations and nurturing their potential.

  • Evening Study Centers: 139 centers reach out to nearly 4250 providing the less fortunate students safe and structured learning environments.

  • Music Education: Band and music programs operate in most Salesian schools, with certified courses offered at St. Joseph's Katpadi.

Social Outreach & Empowerment

The Chennai Province uplifts marginalized communities through migrant services, women’s empowerment, tribal outreach, rehabilitation, and social advocacy, through services like:

  • Migrant Ministry: Since 2015, Don Bosco Migrant Services (DBMS) has rescued bonded laborers and educated migrant childrenwhile ensuring dignified repatriation.

  • Women's Empowerment: Nearly 491 women's groups serve nearly 12,600 women through income generation programs, vocational training, and self-help initiatives.

  • Tribal Ministry: Decades of dedicated work in Jawadhi, Nilgiri, and Yelagiri Hills have focused on providing education, shelter, and advocacy for tribal rights.

  • Rehabilitation Services: The province has specific Centers for addiction recovery, prison ministry for juvenile delinquents, and slum intervention programmes which provide hope and opportunities to marginalized populations.

  • Social Advocacy (DBSARC - Don Bosco Social Action and Research Centre) Empowers marginalized communities through rights advocacy and self-help groups, engaging thousands of youth and women.

Salesian Family

  • The Chennai Province collaborates with 8 groups of the Salesian Family, creating a unified movement of people dedicated to the young.

  • The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA)

  • The Association of Salesian Cooperators (ASC)

  • The Association of Don Bosco Past Pupils (DBPP)

  • The Sisters of Maria Auxiliatrix (SMA)

  • The Sisters of Mary Immaculate    (SMI)

  • The Secular Institute of Don Bosco (VDB)

  • The Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA)

  • Con Don Bosco (CDB)

Strategic Vision (2023–2029)

Under the leadership of Fr. Don Bosco Lourdusamy, the province has set six key priorities:

  • Witness to prophetic Salesian community life through Religious Discipline and Missionary Availability

  • Prioritizing educational access for the poorest and initiating new frontier services

  • Accompaniment & Empowerment of Orphans and Semi-orphans

  • Education on Constitutional values and Environmental Responsibility

  • Employability-focused skill education in technical institutes

  • Formation of Lay Mission Partners in Salesian Charism and Pedagogical Leadership

The Salesian Province of St. Thomas the Apostle, Chennai (INM), continues to uphold its mission to educate, empower, and transform lives. Through its vast network of schools, colleges, vocational institutes, and social service initiatives, the province has become a cornerstone of hope for countless youth and communities. Rooted in faith and driven by a passion for service, the province continues to reach new frontiers, empowering the most vulnerable, building a bright and more inclusive future.

By addressing modern challenges while staying rooted in faith and values, the Salesians of Chennai continue to honor St. John Bosco’s legacy, creating not just successful individuals but compassionate and responsible citizens who contribute to society. The journey of INM stands as a testament to the transformative power of education and service, inspiring generations to live with purpose and integrity.