On Wednesday, September 18, Notre Dame of Holy Cross College in Salem, India, dedicated its new, state-of-the-art auditorium. Leading the joyous dedication ceremony were the school’s Principal Br. Balaswamy Mundru, C.S.C., and Br. John Joseph, C.S.C., the Superior of the Vicariate of Holy Cross Brothers in India.

Fr. Robert Epping, C.S.C., Superior General of the Congregation, and Br. Ripon J. Gomes, C.S.C., Third General Assistant, were both present for the dedication. It came during the General Administration's canonical visit to the Holy Cross Brothers in India, which included visiting both their religious communities and their apostolates.

Br. Ripon had the honor of cutting the ceremonial ribbon, and Fr. Epping blessed the new building as well as the civic officials, parents, teachers, and students present for the occasion.

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Other distinguished guests for the dedications included Fr. Panneer Selvam,C.S.C., Superior of the Vicariate of Tamil Nadu, and Fr. Simon Fernandez, C.S.C., Superior of the Province of North East India.

Under construction for four years, the new auditorium seats 3,000 people with facilities unlike any other college in the Salem region of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a very concrete sign of the excellent, state-of-the-art education that the Holy Cross community seeks to provide its students.

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Notre Dame of Holy Cross College in Salem is one of five schools that the Holy Cross Brothers in India administer. They have another school in Salem, one in Whitefield in the state of Karnataka, and two in the state of Mizoram in Northeast India. All of the schools are well established and are known and respected for their academic excellence.

The brothers also conduct a technical school in Honavar, a rural development center in Salem, a human development center in Whitefield, and a social service and development center in Bennerghatta.