(ANS – Concepción) – Yesterday, Tuesday 6 March, it was 125 years since the Salesians began in Chile their project of education and evangelisation, which now extends throughout the country in 15 cities from Iquique to Punta Arenas. It was that day that  the first Salesian house was opened in Concepción, where today there is a school with over 1500 students.

According to the Salesian historian Fr Simon Kuzmanić “The General Council of the Congregation at the time, decided from Italy to found the first Salesian house in Chile at Concepción, taking on the running and the administration of the ‘San José’ Trade School – at present the site of the Industrial School of the Institute – founded by Fr Herrera Espiridión, the Bishop’s Secretary.”

In February 1887 six Salesians left from Buenos Aires Argentina for Chile on the way to Concepción. They took the train for Mendoza and from there began to cross the Cordigliera of the Andes on mule-back, as was the custom at the time. They arrived in Santiago on 3 March and in Concepción on 6 March.

Before the end of March the Trade School. Taken over by the Salesians had 12 boarding,  which soon became 40. At the end of the year the number of  pupils reached 60 and there were about a hundred children and youngsters who on Sundays attended the Festive Oratory. In  a short time the house became a great attraction for the young people: never before had a group of religious been seen spending Sunday enjoying themselves running and shouting with the children.

Four months later, another group of Salesians, led by Mons. José Fagnano, Prefect  Apostolic of Southern Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands disembarked in the small centre of Punta Arenas, and there started a school, took over a parish, opened a meteorological station (all still operating today) and began pastoral work with the Indian tribes.

Shortly afterwards came the “El Salvador” Work-shops opened in Talca. Within  a year the Salesian presence  Chile numbered three houses for the education of the young people and over 500 children who ran about with their teachers both in the schools and in the festive oratories.

Today the Salesian Congregation in Chile serves 22 schools, 19 parishes or churches, a university, foundations on behalf of children and young people at risk and other works at the service of the Mission.

A novelty to mark these 125 years in Chile, is the total renovation of the site of the Salesian Province, which is very dynamic and containing many resourses with information on all the centres.

Published 07/03/2012