DEEPAGAM-KILPAUK, CHENNAI, March 10, 2025: Preparatory Meeting for launching the SALT and LIGHT Clubs at INM Higher Educational Institutions was convened as inaugural session by DEEPAGAM – Don Bosco Catechetical Center at DBICA Hall on March 10, 2025 (from 9:30 AM to 01:15 PM, IST).

As part of catechetical commitment to higher education and formation, Fr. Jesudoss (Deepagam, Director) has convened a Preparatory Meeting to formulate modules and action plans as Club Action Manual (CAM) for the SALT and LIGHT Student Clubs for Higher Educational Institutions in Chennai Province. Nine INM Salesian fathers and three lay persons attended this preparatory meeting.

The outcome of the meeting is to plan refine the tentative draft of the Comprehensive Plans (of SALT and LIGHT clubs) into a clear and practical guide that will address the expectations, concerns, and rationale of students, coordinators, and college management, ensuring the smooth and confident launch of these student Clubs in all INM Higher Education Institutions (Arts and Science Colleges, Polytechnic Colleges and Agriculture College).

During the preparatory meeting, Fr. John Christy and Fr. Jesudoss P. introduced LIGHT-SALT Clubs with Salesian Charism as its foundation using presentations on Comprehensive Plans; a workshop on LIGHT and SALT Clubs with brainstorming session to frame the first draft of Club Action Manuals (CAMs) were moderated by Fr. C.M. Varghese and the core committee was formed to chart the action plans for implementing SALT and LIGHT clubs in higher educational institutions of Chennai Province (INM).

The generic and tentative plans consist of Club Rationale; Vision, Mission and Objectives; Recommended Ways of Salesian HEI Support to Clubs; Suggested Club Programs and Activities; Club Norms; Club Structure and Implementation Roadmap (Way forward). Participants shared many innovative, creative and practical view-points in implementing the Student Clubs to augment the drafts of plans.

The core committee for drafting Club Action Manuals (CAMs) and implementation roadmap consists of Fr. C.M. Varghese, Fr. Jesudoss P., Fr. John Christy, Fr. Mariasoosai A., and Mrs. Pauline Rose. The other participants were, Fr. Kirubagaran R.; Fr. Augustin Arulraj; Fr. Jerome Cyril Dominic; Fr. Vincent Robert; Fr. Arockia Doss; Mr. A.D. Santo and James VM.

The participants has diverse expertise in social responsibility, spirituality, literature, and science invaluable in shaping these initiatives, which aim to form our students into good Christians and honest citizens for our society in Salesian spirit.

All meeting participants shared their standpoints about forming the mature students (youth) with Salesian Characteristics / Essence with visible identity namely, patience and gentleness.

Of all shared visions and perspectives, what stood most prominent was that the Faith Formation must be the formation of virtues through Gospel values for both Christian and non-Christian students alike with the Salesian Charism envisioned by our founding father, Don Bosco.

The Clubs will be networked with other departments of INM such as, Youth Ministry, DBSARC, Don Bosco Higher Education Network and so on.

SALT Club is for students of other faith that performs more like an association by its reachability and purpose; while, LIGHT Club is for Christian students (Catholic / Non-Catholic) that fosters faith formation. Both SALT and LIGHT Club intertwine in the mission of empowering the youth with faith and value formation towards personal and social development.

Incidentally, for the first-time, Deepagam has invited Province’s “Education to Faith” members to collaborate and decide on catechizing students of higher education.