The new academic year 2024-2025 was inaugurated in a solemn manner in Nashik on June 4 2024 at Divyadaan: Salesian Institute of Philosophy, Nashik.

The inaugural mass was celebrated by Bishop Barthol Barretto, the Bishop of Nashik with Fr Savio Silveira, the Provincial of the Salesian Province as one of the con-celebrant in attendance.

Apart from the students of the institute, the religious of the neighbouring communities were also in attendance. All of them came together as one family to join in for the jubilation of the start of yet another year here at Divyadaan where young candidates for the priesthood are formed in all aspects and in a special manner for their intellectual growth.

The Bishop preached a very inspiring homily where he started off by asking the congregation what their dreams were as a child and how they have grown up towards it. He went on to say how everyone has a dream, and even Jesus did too, He dreamt of a world built on love, peace and joy. He concluded by saying that it isn’t enough for us to dream but to translate our dreams into actions and inspire those around us. 

Fr. Robert Pen, the Rector of the community and Principal of the Institute welcomed the gathering and thanked the dignitaries for their gracing the occasion. He went on to add how it is the staff and students who make Divyadaan what it is and without them there would be no Divyadaan. Fr. Jacob Palaparambil, the Registrar of the Institute then presented the Annual Report of the major events that had taken place in the year that had passed enumerating the various accolades that were achieved by both the staff and the students through the year and also thanked the outgoing staff and students for their valuable contribution and welcomed the new staff and students on-board encouraging them to give their very best for Divyadaan. 

The next major event of the day was the book release of Fr. Jacob Palaparambil titled ‘Person in Sankara Vedanta’. The book was released by the Provincial Fr. Savio Silveira and was then presented to the Fathers. The key-note speaker of the day was Fr. Jacob Palaparambil and he spoke on the book that had just been released. He brought out the similarities between the Sankara and our own beliefs. He compared Adi Shankaracharya to Thomas Aquinas who many reject as a philosopher and appreciate as only a theologian. He added that this prompted him to search more deeply into the philosophy and impact of the teachings of this sage and the role he played in the revival of Hinduism. He appreciated the works of Richard de Smet that played a pivotal role in helping him to delve deeper into the works of Sankara. The address was well appreciated by the staff members and students present and few of them poised questions to the author which were answered very well showing the in-depth knowledge of the author in the subject concerned. 

Overall it was a memorable day filled with joy and graces with many eminent persons gracing the occasion and wishing well for the students and staff to embark on this journey of questioning and reasoning, all for the greater glory of God.  The students felt all geared up and pumped to begin their philosophical pursuit with one of them rightly saying, “In the midst of such stalwarts and intellectuals, I cannot help but grow intellectually” and another brother who belonged to a different province graciously expressed, “I am now truly grateful to my Provincial for sending me to this particular house for my philosophical studies.”