DEEPAGAM-KILPAUK, JULY 26, 2025: Fr. Vincent Bosco, SDB - a Salesian of Chennai Province and Youth Director in Bethlehem gave an inspiring talk on message of peace for today’s youth as experienced in his twenty-five years of pastoral life in Middle East. Incidentally, this was the second catechetical visit – both motivational and inspiring for the Deepagam community.

Fr. Vincent Raj Bosco, SDB (INM, Chennai) has met Director and the Deepagam staff on July 26, 2025 at 11:00 AM. Fr. Vincent introduced himself as INM priest for the Middle East countries. He has served in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Israel and has visited Poland, Germany, and Spain. Fr. John Christy (INM Youth Delegate) and Fr. Jesudoss (Director-Deepagam) were one of his motivating forces during his formative years. Fr. Vincent indeed has the ‘gift of tongues’ for he knows many languages; he has learned Arabic, Hebrews, Italian, French and lately, German.

Fr. Vincent began his session thus: “I have come to inspire you with the message of peace, shalom.”

On youth experiences, Father’s comments were: “Youth are different from one place to another. Youth in India are dependent in life; whereas in abroad, they live independent life.”

In a crux, he would say about youth whom he has encountered were all ‘Struggling Youth’. “Peace is the dire necessity” in the war-torn nation-states of Middle East. While, necessity is the mother of all invention, nations has opted for alternatives to attain peace in communities, families and personal lives. 

Israel too is affected by Covid pandemics. To this day, the pastoral works have come to a standstill; youth centers and oratories remain closed.

Recalling his pastoral formation (for four years in India), he says: “I began pastoral ministry in St Bede’s and Evening Schools. It helped me to grow as Salesian – I took this experience to Egypt and successfully implemented what I had learned in St Bede’s; later in Jerusalem and in Nazareth.”

“The first two years of priestly life is very important for a new priest. I was in Nazareth among Jewish and Palestinian people. I prayed deeply every night and in the end of the two years, the youth (Jewish and Palestinians) of the Nazareth Parish gave me a tearful farewell. In Rome, I was getting fever frequently, and a sister told me to forget Nazareth experience, for the healing.”

He continued, “Staying long in a place will form you”. He quoted the document, Christus Vivit pointing that ‘Today’s youth is not having commitment’. For example, IT Pros often quit their jobs quickly. Human Resource Exit happens every day despite all kinds of incentives.

Sharing his witness of Youth in Middle East, Father said: “I saw many youth idling in restaurants. They see Church as moneyed entity. There is a growing gap between priests and youth. Given this scenario, it is difficult to create, form or prepare faithful for the next generation.

“Every life has a purpose. Jesus said ‘I am the Way’; did He say ‘I am the church?’ No. We are to become spirit-filled Church, not as institution. How to encourage priests to become youth-friendly? This is Don Bosco’s Expectation: ‘Take youth to priests and priests to youth.’

“We say daily the Memorial Acclamation (the core of our faith) ‘We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your resurrection until you come again.’ But, do we expect Jesus to respond back provocatively, ‘before breakfast or before supper?’”

“Remember that the life situations are most distressing. We see divided lives. We suffer sickness as we grow. I have the mandate to take my faith conviction to others. We need to meet people not in the churches, but in streets (the Thinnai and Voonjal of the past).”

“Today, young people are with vibe. A Hindu boy of nineteen years old influenced by SmartPhone had committed suicide; he was following a mobile service, which was like a BlueWhale. I went for his funeral. It was actually an accident. Many students / youth were around. I saw youngsters today running around with saturated state of life (everything is available to them). I realized that we have a huge responsibility for the youth.”

“On a rainy day, I went to meet a group of youth on a bike. The next day, about ten boys and girls were waiting. I offered them some foreign chocolates; and they asked me: “You are a father and others are also fathers. But why are you different?” I shared with them my life experiences in the Middle East.”

“The society is such that, if you share a Bible you will be arrested. Of course, there is the everyday specter of bombs. Once, I was caught in the fight between Palestinians and Israel – there was tear gas. I hid inside a mobile dustbin. It was a life-risking experience. Another day, I had a sniper’s laser light pointed onto my body. For three days, I couldn’t sleep peacefully.”

“It was an experience of hell. Our youngsters in Middle East are with this life situations of violence and insecurities. I ran into a group of young men who were into violent act. But, they recognized me; and I, them. They were my oratory boys. Though, they spared me, I saw those youngsters had violence in them. Also, I met a woman IDF officer who told me, ‘We are independent and disciplined persons’.

“You must know that Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg are Jewish-origin. In National Library of Israel, you will be surprise to find that 17, 18, 19-olds doing research. Keep the library and library will never give you up. Read, constantly read. People of Israel are well-versed in agriculture, defense, finance and many other public areas. Their money values does not change. It is all brainy. The Pegasus software is developed by Israel, which is heavily used in India to track SmartPhone users!”

“Please read books. Palestinians read Quran. But, Israeli youths read books. Their library (National Library of Israel) has highly advanced technology (four sections, seven floors, five million books with robotic assistance). Though we are people of faith, read dailies’ editorials. Remember, Word of God is Holy Bible; and world of God is newspapers. So, keep updating yourself.”

“எண்ணென்ப ஏனை எழுத்தென்ப இவ்விரண்டும் கண்ணென்ப வாழும் உயிர்க்கு (குறள், 392). Yen – NUMBER; Yezhutthu – LETTER; ‘Letters and numbers are light to our life.’ Let us be self-consciousness. Use all your talents while encountering the youth. I know keyboard, languages and guitar; and, I observe them a lot while relating to them.

“‘Prayer is better than sleep’ as our Muslim brethren would say. Deuteronomy 6:4 is also a call (Shema) for prayer. To make Church into street community (or rather ‘field community’), visit prisons, homes, playground, offices… Don Bosco’s eyes is always open –the saint who loved the youth.”

“Life is like water. Water keeps flowing all the ways even when it gets blocked. I learned German in 42 years of age at Max Mueller Bhavan, Chennai. As a Salesian, I could change few youngster’s life - the German language learners. Our aim is to win young people for Jesus Christ. Follow Jesus on the Cross, not YouTube channels. Continually inspire youngsters. Today’s youth are searching for us. The day a Salesian not meeting a youth is a day wasted in life for him/her.” Where Don Bosco is, there Christ is.”

Fr. Vincent concluded his inspiring note on Peace by reading prayerfully the Psalm 133: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (RSV)