(ANS – Campo Grande) The 9th successor of Don Bosco, Fr Pascual Chávez,  blessed and opened the new Don Bosco Museum of Cultures on 24 August, in what is known as the Indigenous Nations Park.

In attendance were Fr Lauro Takaki Shinohara, Salesian Provincial for Campo Grande; Archbishop Vittorio Pavanello SDB, Metropolitan archbishop of Campo Grande; Bishop tra i Eduardo Pinheiro da Silva SDB, Auxiliary Bishop of Campo Grande; Fr Giuseppe Marinoni, Rector of the Don Bosco Catholic University; Andrea Puccinelli, Governor for the State of Mato Grosso South and Nelson Trad Filho, Prefect of the Campo Grande City council; the team coordinating and executing the project, amongst whom Mrs Aivone Carvalho and the artistic director in charge of the project,  Architect Massimo Chiappetta.

Indigenous members of the Bororo and Xavante people were also there, along with Salesians from various communities in the Campo Grande Province, Salesian Sisters Religious of other Congregations and representatives of the diocesan clergy, teachers, scholars and collaborators in the Salesian Mission.
Campo Grande society was made present through various testimonies, artistic presentations in honour of the Rector Major and the Salesians and finally, there was a chance to contemplate, for the first time, archeological items from the Mato Grosso South peoples, the Karajá, Bororo, Xavante and River Vaupés.

During his address the Rector Major emphasised: “It is important to look after the Amazon region, a world ecosystem reserve. But more important still is the defence of the life and the rights of the indigenous people, who are an historical reserve for all of humanity”.

The Don Bosco Museum of Cultures does not just hold a static past. Its items embrace the history of the peoples living there today and who claim their continued existence. It has been a gift for the Salesians of Campo Grande, Mato Grosso South and Brazil.
He concluded, saying: “The Rector Major is here not only to give importance to and open an event, but to show our commitment to the defence of the life of the indigenous peoples”.

Published 26/08/09