FR. PETER LOURDES SMASHES A CENTURY AT 100

Fr. Peter Lourdes smashes a century at 100

• Posted on 24-Mar-2025
• Uploaded by | NITIKA DON BOSCO

Kolkata, March 19, 2025 — Fr. Peter Vincent Lourdes, a pioneering Salesian priest and one of India’s first priest psychologists, celebrated his 100th birthday today at Nitika Don Bosco, Kolkata, marking a century of remarkable service in counseling, spiritual direction, and education. The centenarian priest, who made his religious profession on December 6, 1944, and was ordained on December 5, 1954, continues to inspire with his resilience, having beaten COVID-19 at 94 and hoisted the Tricolour on Independence Day 2020 before leaving Fortis Hospital.

Fr. Lourdes boasts an illustrious career spanning over 50 years, with advanced degrees including a D. Psych in Clinical Psychology from Salesian University, Rome, a Masters in Somatic Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies, San Francisco, and a PhD in Counselling Psychology from Loyola University, Chicago. A Salesian College alumnus, Mr. Devasia, said, “His classes on psychology were the most sought after and fruitful,” reflecting the impact of his tenure as Programme Director and Head of the Psychology Department at National Vocation Service Centre, Pune, and as the inaugural President of the Salesian Psychological Association. Currently, he maintains a psychotherapy practice in Kolkata.

His academic and literary contributions include popular books like The Human Face of Clergy (1997), Wow Jesus! (2014), and The Clash (2016), the latter exploring the intersection of Transcendental Meditation and counseling psychology. A certified massage therapist from the San Francisco School of Massage Therapy, Fr. Lourdes also brought a unique somatic perspective to his work.

Born in 1925, Fr. Lourdes was among the first students at Don Bosco School, Liluah, in 1937, later returning as a brother and rector. Fr. Sanjay Manohar Kujur, Rector of Don Bosco Liluah, noted, “Rev. Fr. Peter Vincent Lourdes was the 1st amongst the students to be admitted at our DBL ..way back in 1937, when it opened the gates....Roll Nos. 28, He later came back as a brother, Dean of Studies and Headmaster of DBL.” He served as principal of Salesian College Sonada from 1967 to 1970 and was a visiting faculty member at Sadhana Institute, Lonavla, and Sumedha Centre from 2003 to 2014. His 60th ordination anniversary and 70th religious profession anniversary were celebrated in 2014.

Today’s milestone underscores his enduring legacy as a priest, educator, and healer.