The Salesians of the Mumbai Province are presently having a school in Kuwait that goes by the name: Indian English Academy (IEAS). Four years since its inception, the three division school now has about 1,500 students from KG to Std. XI. The first batch of Std. X students appeared for the CBSE Board Examinations in March 2006 and won laurels for themselves and the school as well. There is a heavy rush for admissions and plans are afoot to expand the school and provide higher education programs for the benefit of the Arab community as well.

Mindful of the fact that development and expansion of the Salesian mission calls for an increase of Salesian personnel, the Salesian Community in Kuwait decided to cast the vocational net by organizing “Don Bosco Summer Holidays” a novel kind of Vocation camp in India, from July 1 – 15, 2006.

About 13 catholic boys from Std VII to XII, studying mainly in IEAS were given an educational tour of several Salesian institutions in the Province of Mumbai and the Konkan Vice province. Fr. Tony D’Souza assisted by Fr. Brian Moras, the Vocation Promoter of the Mumbai province and Mr. Kenneth Remedios, a staff member of IEAS accompanied the boys and provided them a formative and informative experience.

The daily schedule of the tour included Holy Mass, Morning and Evening prayers, the Holy Rosary and offered the boys a much appreciated spiritual experience which was also very new to them, as such opportunities are not available in Kuwait. Talks given to the boys at the different places had a vocational slant and not a few evinced a keen interest in our Salesian vocation.

The boys visited the various types of apostolate that the Salesians are engaged in, like schools – Academic & Technical, NIOS; Boardings; Parishes, Marginalized youth ministry, in Mumbai and Goa; Missionary and Development projects in Ahmednagar, Animation centers (Benaulim); Media Ministry (Tejprasarini – Mumbai) Aspirantates in Lonavla and Panjim and the Prenovitiate house in Kudal. The hospitality extended in each place was overwhelmingly cordial, and the confreres of the houses provided us very delicious meals and comfortable accommodation. They gave of their time to interact with the boys and answer their many queries.

We sincerely thank the two Provincial Superiors of Mumbai and Konkan, Fr. Ivo Coelho and Fr. Loddy Pires for tangibly supporting this venture. Our deep gratitude to Fr. Brian Moras and to all the Rectors and Confreres of the houses we visited for the generous Salesian hospitality which impressed the boys most.

Don Bosco Summer Holidays did in fact serve to sow the seeds of Salesian vocation. We now look up to God in prayer “to send laborers” into the Arab vineyard.

--- Report by the Salesian Fathers in Kuwait