Don Bosco Seminary, Karunapuram, is an Immediate Postnovitiate House, which trains the young Salesians to achieve a progressive integration of faith, culture and life and growth in the spirit and mission of Don Bosco. To facilitate the above process, it aims at imparting adequate philosophical, pedagogical and Catechetical preparation in dialogue with the prevailing culture (Constitution 114 and Ratio 296), in its Salesian Study Centre, named Vishwa Jyothi Don Bosco College.

DON BOSCO COMMUNITY

The Salesian Province of St. Joseph, Hyderabad, which was born on 24th April 1992, had initially decided to send its clerics for post-novitiate formation to the studentates of other Indian Provinces. But due to unforeseen circumstances, the province was compelled to begin its own studentate of Philosophy. Accordingly, the Provincial Council made a recommendation to this effect to the second provincial chapter of the Province, in May 1995, which unanimously decided to open its own studentate of philosophy for the formation of its young Salesians. It was also decided that while the studentate will be owned and managed by the Salesian province of St. Joseph, Hyderabad, it would also cater to the academic formation of seminarians from dioceses and other religious congregations.
Bishop of Warangal, Mgr. Thumma Bala, offered free of cost, five acres of land at Karunapuram. The Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr. Juan Vecchi bore the entire cost of construction.
The foundation stone was laid on 29th December 1995. Thanks to the tireless efforts of many a confrere and numerous labourers, the works was completed in record time. The salesian students moved in here on 6th June 1997, together with Fr. Marneni William Raju, the administrator. The diocesan students joined them on 29th of the same month. The deployment of the staff was completed, with the arrival of Fr. Jose Koonananickal, the Rector and Fr. Joshtrom Isaac, the Principal, on 7th July and Fr. Maliekal Jose, as confessor and teacher, on 8 November.
Towards the end of the third year, for reasons of greater impact-filled formation, respecting the distinctive identities of both the Salesians and the diocesan seminarians, it was felt that the diocesan seminarians could be housed separately. This idea was mooted to Mgr. Thumma Bala, the Bishop of Warangal. After certain initial hesitation, the proposal was accepted by the Bishop and his council. Portion of the land, belonging to St Augustine’s hostel, adjoining the Vishwa Jyothi Don Bosco College, was earmarked for the diocesan seminary and the construction of the new seminary building commenced in March, 2000. On 5 June, the seminary was inaugurated with the Mass of the Holy Spirit, presided over by His Lordship Thumma Bala. Fr. Maliekal Jose was appointed the pioneering Rector of the seminary and Fr. Madanu Antony, of the diocese of Nalgonda, the Procurator. For one full year, till the construction of the seminary building was over, the new seminary, with around 35 diocesan seminarians and two Mill Hill Brothers was housed in the premises of the Vishwa Jyothi Don Bosco College. At the completion of the construction, the seminary was named St. Xavier’s Major Seminary and was shifted to the new premises, with Fr. Thottiyil Thomas SDB, as the Rector.

The Immediate Postnovitiate Formation Programme for the Salesian Brothers, which was being held at Don Bosco Vidyaniketan, Kalyani (1982-2010) has been shifted to Don Bosco Studentate, Karunapuram in June 2010.
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