Salesian Nun’s Book Honoured with Golden Book Award 2025

Great works often remain quietly influential until the world finally takes notice. Such is the journey of "Dream Big, Dream True – 35 Tips to Make the Best of Your Life," a motivational book by Sr. Teresa Joseph, FMA. The book, which was first published in 2004, has transformed the lives of thousands over the past 20 years. In a remarkable testament to its enduring impact, the book won the Golden Book Award 2025 in January this year in the category of "Personal and Interpersonal Growth."

A Recognition in God’s Time

On January 31, 2025, Sr. Teresa received an email from Wings Publication International, the organisers of the Golden Book Awards, which read:

“We are absolutely delighted to announce that your book has been declared a winner of the prestigious Golden Book Award 2025! This achievement is a reflection of your exceptional storytelling, your dedication, and the powerful impact your words have made on readers.”

For Sr. Teresa, the recognition felt like divine providence.

“I consider this award a surprise visit from God, a sign of His unconditional love for me,” she said in an interview with Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA. “In the school of life, I have learnt the beauty of waiting. In His time, He makes all things beautiful.”

A Book That Keeps Giving

"Dream Big, Dream True" has been a quiet force of transformation for thousands of youngsters ever since it was first published. Now in its 10th edition, the book has sold over 25,000 copies and has been translated into multiple languages—including English, Marathi, Hindi, and Khasi—ensuring that its message of hope reaches people from all walks of life. A special edition in Braille has also been published for individuals suffering from visual impairment.

What makes the book truly special is not just its success but its deep connection with readers. Through 35 practical and uplifting tips, the book offers guidance on self-confidence, optimism, forgiveness, and personal growth.

“Many people who have read the book have told me how much it has helped them,” Sr. Teresa says. “Their compliments are more valuable than any award.”

The Inspiration Behind Writing the Book

The idea for the book was born out of Sr. Teresa’s observations of young people struggling to find their way in life. As a student at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, she often heard professors say, “Publish or perish.” But beyond academic encouragement, it was the real-life struggles of youth that pushed her to pen the book.

“Many youngsters ack courage and give up easily, not knowing the ‘how’ and ‘what’ of life,” she explained. “When they read the book and see the tips on ‘how to get what you expect’, their faces light up, and they feel empowered. That gives me fulfilment.”

A Testament to Hope

It is fitting that Sr. Teresa’s book received its long-awaited recognition in 2025—the Jubilee Year of Hope. For her, hope is not just a theme but a lived experience.

“Everyone knows what it is to hope,” she says. “In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come”.

And now, after years of quietly changing lives, "Dream Big, Dream True" has stepped into the spotlight—just as its author always believed it would, in God’s perfect time.

For anyone wondering whether their dreams are taking too long to bloom, Sr. Teresa has a gentle but firm reminder:

“Everything happens in its own time, and when the time is right, even the smallest seed of hope will bloom into something extraordinary."

Courtesy: Vatican News