A Salesian Institute of Youth Ministry & Faith Education

Formed in the spirit of Don Bosco, to walk with young people.

Visvadeep prepares religious, priests and lay people for faith formation and youth ministry, especially in service of poor and marginalised young people

Who We Are

We are the Salesians of Don Bosco, called to serve young people, especially the poor and marginalised, with the heart of Don Bosco. That service takes many forms, and Visvadeep is one of them.

Visvadeep began in 1978 as an idea: to use media in the catechetical formation of the young. The idea took root at Kristu Jyoti College, Bengaluru, as a Catechetical Centre in 1979, and found a home of its own in 1987. Since 1993 it has been an independent Salesian community, academically linked with Kristu Jyoti College and the Faculty of Theology of the Salesian Pontifical University, Rome, and it has grown into an institute of youth ministry and faith education.

Academically linked with

Kristu Jyoti College
Bengaluru

Faculty of Theology
Salesian Pontifical University, Rome

The Spirit of Don Bosco

Home. School. Church. Playground.

Four words from Don Bosco describe the kind of place Visvadeep wants to be: a place where young people are welcomed, educated, accompanied in faith and encouraged to grow through friendship and joyful participation.

Home

A community that welcomes, where people find acceptance, belonging and mutual care.

School

A place that teaches, where people learn, develop their abilities and prepare for life and service.

Church

A place that nourishes faith, where the Gospel is encountered and people grow in their relationship with God.

Playground

A place where friendship, joy and creativity grow.

Our Vision and Mission

Our Vision

To equip persons to carry the incarnate love of God into diverse contexts and settings.

Visvadeep seeks to impart scientific knowledge and professional skills in Faith Formation and Youth Ministry to lay people, religious and priests from India and abroad. In an atmosphere conducive to the integral formation of students, we foster an educative and formative process that enables them to bring the love of God into the realities of life and ministry.

Our Mission

To provide integral, academic and pastoral formation that equips people for effective Faith Formation and Youth Ministry.

Visvadeep brings together theology, faith formation, youth ministry, pastoral skills and contemporary communication in an educative and formative process. Through study, practical training, personal growth and pastoral experience, we seek to prepare lay people, religious and priests to accompany people, especially young people, nurture faith and respond creatively to the challenges of the contemporary world.

Our Approach To Formation

Human

Growing in self-awareness, emotional maturity, responsible freedom and the ability to build healthy relationships.

Intellectual

Deepening theological understanding, developing critical reflection and engaging with contemporary pastoral challenges.

Spiritual

Nurturing a life of faith, prayer and a personal relationship with Christ.

Pastoral

Integrating learning and faith with practical experience, preparing people to serve communities and accompany young people with competence and compassion.

These four dimensions integrally form people who can communicate the Gospel meaningfully and serve with particular sensitivity to the needs of young people.

Who We Have Formed
7,304

trained and sent forth

4,280Sisters
1,704Brothers
1,093Priests
227Lay persons

Where they came fromIndia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Papua New Guinea and Tanzania.

Our Story

From an idea to a home, and back to media
1978

An idea takes shape

Visvadeep begins as an idea: an audiovisual studio to bring media into catechetical formation.

1979

The Catechetical Centre

The idea takes root as the Catechetical Centre is inaugurated at Kristu Jyoti College, Bengaluru.

1980

First Catechetics Course

The first formal course in catechetics opens.

1982

Audiovisual Library

A library is set up to serve the Salesian Province of Bangalore.

1984

Diploma in Catechetics

A seven-month Diploma in Catechetics is introduced.

1987

The idea finds a home

The new building is blessed and inaugurated on 31 January.

1992

A Master’s programme

The M.Th. in Catechetics and Youth Ministry (now the L.Th.) begins.

1993

Standing on its own

Visvadeep becomes an independent Salesian community, keeping its academic link with Kristu Jyoti College and the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Salesian University, Rome.

1998

Liturgical Animation

A course in Liturgical Animation widens the mission to the Church’s worship.

2010

Specialisation in Liturgy

Kristu Jyoti College begins offering an M.Th. specialisation in Liturgy.

2012

Twenty-five years of service

Visvadeep marks 25 years of forming people for the Church.

2012 to 2025

Continuing the mission

The courses go on year after year, forming ministers from India and abroad.

2025

Back to media, now digital

Visvadeep takes over VAISCOM, the online communication programme sanctioned by the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), carrying its founding idea of media in ministry into the digital age.

Through every stage, the aim has stayed the same: to be a lamp for those who walk with young people.

Ready to be formed for mission, not just ministry?

Explore Our Programmes