Deceased Members-Fr.John Bosco

Fr. J. John Bosco CMF was the eldest son among the three children of his parents. He joined Postulancy at Claret Bhavan, Karumathur in 1979. He completed his philosophical studies from 1983 to 1986 in Arulandar College, Claret Bhavan, Karumathur, Tamil Nadu and did his theological studies in Morning Star College, Claret Nivas, Barrackpore, West Bengal. He was prayerful from the initial formation on. This he cultivated and was very much committed throughout his vocation as faithful son of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. One of the attractive characters of Fr. John Bosco is his helping attitude to the needy. He would go out of his way to secure helps for education of the poor children and sick people. In his ministry of the Word he would attract the faithful to listen to the Word of God by his cheerful and consoling Gospel message.

As a committed missionary among the Santhals, he learned Santhali language so well and identified himself with the Santhals culture and customs. He was very devoted to the holy Eucharist. After finishing all his works of the day, he used to spend long hours at night in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Seeing his devotion to the Eucharist, the non-Christian hostel children of Sahanagar also knelt behind him in the chapel and started praying to Jesus. His dedication to the evangelization is a lesson for all of us in the Province. He organized retreats for lay people and initiated healing ministries in those events. This year he had formed 65 catechumens and baptized them during the Easter Vigil Mass. For the coming year he had the plan of forming 100 catechumens and baptizing them. Thus the plan of God was different.

Fr. John Bosco was a man of community living. The only quality that all those who lived with him could highlight is his sense of humour. He made everybody to be happy. His presence was always promoting joy to all. As a missionary from the rural and tribal villages in North India, he used to carry fruits and other edibles to the major seminarians of Claret Nivas, Barrackpore. When the students used to ask him why he had to strain himself in bringing those things, he used to answer that although those things could be bought, he was carrying those fruits to them because he loved his little younger ones.

In June, 2016 he was appointed as the Parish Priest of Basmata Mission in Dumka Diocese, Jharkhand. This was the final mission in his life. On 15th June, 2017 he was traveling by motor-bike to catch the train to go his former mission of Sahanagar. When he reached the place called Sukuna-Majhipara, Dumka district, Jharkhand, a container lorry that went behind Fr. John Bosco ran over and killed him on the spot. His body was transferred to Claret Illam, Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu and buried after the funeral mass attended by his family members and Claretian Missionaries and his friends. The following are ministries he carried out during his 25 years of missionary life.