(ANS - Cartagena) - On 26 July, the Salesians in Cartagena, Colombia, celebrated Mass in thanksgiving for their 75-year presence in the city. To mark the occasion, the work was awarded the Pedro Romero Medal by the Mayor of Cartagena, the Medal of the Civil Order of Merit by the Municipal Council, and the Medal of the Order of Democracy by the Congress of the Republic of Colombia. These awards were given in recognition of the great work of the Salesians for the education of children and young people.

The Eucharist was presided over by Archbishop Jorge Enrique Jiménez Carvajal of the Diocese of Cartagena, in the presence of the Salesians of the local community, the Regional Councillor, Fr Timothy Ploch, the Provincial, Fr John Jairo Gómez Rúa, the Provincial Council, and other Salesians and members of the Salesian Family.

The civil and political authorities also participated, among them the member of parliament Pedrito Pereira; Ms Clara Inés Sagre Hernández, Secretary of Education of Cartagena; representatives of educational and religious institutions (Daughters of the Sacred Heart and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians); and collaborators in the work.

 
During the celebration, the guests took part in a dinner in the main patio of the Professional Schools. Students from the schools and from ETDH (Education for Work and Human Development) enlivened the occasion with songs, chants, dances and musical performances.

Over these 75 years in Cartagena the Salesian professional schools have formed people through academic and technical training to face challenges in a creative, dynamic and committed manner. They have offered comprehensive training according to the philosophy of Don Bosco: to educate and evangelize, constantly  encouraging the development of young people and of the Salesian work.

"May God bless us and guide us, and may Mary Help of Christians be our protector. May Don Bosco and the Salesian saints encourage us to continue to fulfill our mission of educating young people, especially the most vulnerable members of our society," said Fr Orlando Ortega Nates, Director of the Professional Schools

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Published 01/08/2014