(ANS - Yanatile)- Between Machu Picchu and the Manu National Park there is a mission territory cared for by the Salesians. When Fr Juan Polentini arrived thirty-five years ago this was virgin forest. Fr Polentini was following in the footsteps of the people of his parish who left the Sacred Valley of the Incas to cross the snowy peaks of the eastern ridge and then descend the steep valley of the river Yanatile to a new land. This is how the Salesian mission started, and with it the town of Quebrada Honda, capital of Yanatile. The district was formally recognised in 1982, with a law promoted in Congress by Fr Polentini.

Today six Salesians and three Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary are working hard to bring the Gospel to about 13,000 people, scattered among sixty-five communities in over 3,080 square kilometres of forest. Although the area is difficult to access, coffee, cocoa and coca are cultivated more and more in the Yanatile valley and the nearby basin of the river Lacco.

There are two basic works: the parish of Mary Help of Christians and the experimental school for agriculture and livestock. "It is a missionary work located in the heart of the Quechua people. They are extremely poor and very isolated," says Fr Martin Quijano, director of the school. The Salesian style has become rooted so deeply that the main festival in Yanatile is that of Mary Help of Christians.

"They love her so much.  They call her 'Mamacha Mary Help of Christians'. She is the patron saint of the district," says Fr Yul Soto, parish priest of Quebrada Honda. The people spend the whole year preparing for the feast.

Illariy Radio, directed by Fidel Oviedo, is very popular with the people. As well as broadcasting programmes in Spanish and Quechua, it is the voice that constantly assists farmers with advice and serves to make their needs known. "It gives good formation and information. The radio is an instrument of evangelization. It transmits morning and evening prayer and the Gospel of the day." This missionary effort involves seven catechists who speak Quechua. They prepare people for the sacraments and they celebrate the Word in the most remote communities. "Because they speak Quechua, they touch the hearts of the people," says Fr Soto.

To provide job training for a better future, a training centre has been opened in an ancient peasant farm at Monte Salvado bought from Juan Hermoza. Now it is an Experimental School for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry. It educates 160 students, seventy of whom are boarders.

"We want them to love their land and their people. They are children of poor farmers.  We want them to love the work, love nature and God," adds Fr Quijano. Many of the students are agronomists, scientists, animal breeders or biologists ... especially among recent graduates. There are also some who have become lawyers, administrators, technicians or teachers. "I am extremely proud of what they do to unite their community. Two past pupils and teachers are now working to bring peace to two communities in conflict," says the director of the school.

In the mission territory of Yanatile, in this Year of the Bicentenary of Don Bosco, the Salesians are renewing their commitment to love the poorest young people in the most neglected areas.

The full story of the mission is available in the Salesian Bulletin of Peru.

Published 14/07/2015