ABOUT US
The Congregation of the Visitation
Sisters of Don Bosco (V.S.D.B) is a Diocesan Congregation founded by late
Archbishop Hubert D’Rosario SDB, DD., the then Archbishop of Shillong-Guwahati
on May 31, 1983, at Madonna Convent, Nongkseh, Upper Shillong Meghalaya, India.
The Motto of the Congregation is “Go, Disciple” (Mt 28:19).
The main purpose for which the Congregation was founded is to reach out to the poor and needy and to bring the message of love to all particularly the youth in the rural and neglected urban areas. In this way, the Congregation has some share in the life and mission of the Church. The Congregation has for its highest aim the glory of God and the good of the Church.
The Congregation attains its
specific end chiefly by setting up small communities of its members, who live
like the poor, in the villages and poor urban areas, and work for the total
upliftment of the people through their evangelical, catechetical, educative and
social apostolate.
The congregation exercises its
apostolate in other works of charity according to the needs of time and place.
VISION
Other Mary’s who, in the spirit of the Visitation, obey Christ’s command, “Go, Disciple”, living a joyful missionary commitment amidst the needy especially the young, in rural and neglected urban areas, with the pastoral zeal of Don Bosco, for radical transformation in all aspects of life, so that love, unity, justice, peace and joy of Christ be experienced.
MISSION
Driven by Jesus’ command, “Go, Disciple”, our mission is to go with haste like Mother Mary to visit and meet people in their homes in the far flung villages and neglected urban areas, empowering and accompanying them in collaboration with others, in order to witness Christ.
CHARISM
The Missionary Charism of the VSDB Congregation is manifested in service to the poor and needy in the rural and neglected urban areas, in obedience to Christ’s command, “Go, disciple” and in imitation of Mother Mary at her Visitation.
SPIRITUALITY
The Missionary Charism of the VSDB Congregation is manifested in service to the poor and needy in the rural and neglected urban areas, in obedience to Christ’s command, “Go, disciple” and in imitation of Mother Mary at her Visitation.
THE VSDB IDENTITY
The VSDB is a group of consecrated Catholic women founded by Archbishop Hubert D’Rosario. Driven by the motto, “Go, disciple” and convinced of her Vocation, the VSDB is filled with missionary zeal for spreading God’s Kingdom and with a passion for uplifting the poor and abandoned, in rural and neglected urban areas particularly the young, in the spirit of St. John Bosco. She lives a simple and joyful life in a religious community. She is prayerful, people oriented, cheerful, spontaneous, sociable, hardworking, competent, hospitable, and is at home in various situations and cultures.
Inspired by Mother Mary at her Visitation she is an apostle who, in touring villages and visiting homes, meets people to evangelize, to catechize and to promote radical transformation. She presents the compassionate image of God to everyone.
MOTTO
“Go Disciple” (Mt, 28:19)
The members will go to the villages and neglected areas of the towns to carry the Good News and will make visiting of the houses one of their principal apostolic duties, imitating Mary at her visitation, “who arose and went with haste into the hill country” (Lk 1:39) to help and bring joy to Elizabeth. They will bring the
teachings of Jesus to all their hearers and make them disciples of the Master.
HISTORY
The Congregation of the Visitation Sisters of Don Bosco (V.S.D.B) is a Diocesan Congregation founded by late Archbishop Hubert D’Rosario SDB, DD., the then Archbishop of Shillong-Guwahati on May 31, 1983, at Madonna Convent, Nongkseh, Upper Shillong Meghalaya, India.The Founder Archbishop Hubert D’Rosario entrusted the initial formation of the VSDB candidates to the Sisters of Our Lady Queen of the Missions (RNDM Sisters) for nine years. Mother John Bosco, the then Provincial of Calcutta took up the responsibility to provide sisters for the new Congregation. A year later, the first group of candidates entered the novitiate and Sr. Marie Therese Reynold was made the first Novice-directress. After the completion of the term as Provincial, Mother John Bosco took over the work of formation herself. She directed the new Congregation for seven years.After three years of formation, the first batch of novices made their first profession on May 31, 1986. Two years later, the Congregation opened its first mission Centre at Pomlakrai (Upper Shillong Parish). The Sisters with Temporary Profession were entrusted with the responsibility of community Leaders. Six years later the first batch made their final profession on May 31, 1992.At the expiry of the contract with the RNDM in 1993, Mother John Bosco the first President of the new Congregation left the governance of the Congregation to the hands of the VSDB sisters. Soon after the Final Profession of the first batch of the VSDB sisters (June 1, 1992), the responsibilities of President and Councilors were assigned to them. Sr. Cecilia Sad was appointed the first President of the Congregation. Under the able guidance of the Founder, the President and the Councilors carried out their offices. On December 8, 1997, the revised Constitutions and General Regulations were approved by the Most Rev. Archbishop Tarcisius resto Phanrang, SDB and the Institute was officially raised to the status of a Diocesan Congregation. In September 1998 the First General chapter was held during which the first Superior General of the Congregation was elected. We have had five General Chapters and eleven General Assemblies till date.
A short explanation of the Crest of the Visitation Sisters of Don Bosco
The Motto:“Go, Disciple!” (Mt. 28:19). It will be the goal of the Apostolic work of the Congregation.The Name Jesus surmounted by a Cross and surrounded by eight Crosses:The name JESUS, in its symbolic Greek form, used by the early Christians, stands for Our Lord Jesus Christ who redeemed the world through his death on the cross, represented by the cross surmounting the symbol. The eight crosses represent the eight Beatitudes, the summary of the Gospel teachings of JESUS, which the sisters are striving to live radically and to win all to Christ through evangelization and Catechesis of the Gospel message.The star shedding its rays on the towns and villages:Stands for Mary at her Visitation who as she entered once the house of her cousin Elizabeth, now through the sisters visits people in their homes both in the towns and villages to bring them the LOVE, PEACE, HOPE and JOY of CHRIST.The rising Sun:Is a symbol of the geographical position of the place of foundation and first labours of the sisters, which is situated in the easternmost region of India. It also represents Our Lord, the Sun of Justice. It will be the effort of the Sisters to remedy the situations of injustice met with, in their labours.The wood:Signifies Don Bosco, the Founder of the Salesian Congregation, who is also the Patron and after whom the Congregation of the Visitation Sisters is called (“bosco” in Italian means “wood”). The sisters strive to become saints by living the spirituality of Don Bosco.The Hills and the Rivers: Represent the field of work entrusted to the sisters.
