He was accompanied by his secretary, Fr Juan José Bartolomé, and the Councillor for the America South Cone Region, Fr Natale Vitali.

The purpose of the journey to Argentina was in view of the start of two new Provinces the result of the re-organisation of the previous five. On 31January, the feast of Don Bosco, Fr Chávez will install the two new Provincials and the two Provinces will begin: “Blessed Artemides Zatti”, with headquarters in Buenos Aires (ARS), “Blessed Zephyrinus Namuncurá, with headquarters in Cordoba (ARN). This re-structuring comes at the end of a long process over recent years and approved by the Rector Major and his Council in a decree dated 9 July 2009.

Having arrived at Buenos Aires on the morning of the 27th and before leaving for   Ushuaia the Rector Major said Mass in the chapel of the “Artemides Zatti” community for elderly and sick Salesians.

During the Mass the Rector Major addressed words of thanks and encouragement to the elderly Salesians. “Argentina is a land which has given many fruits to the Congregation. Our gaze, if turned to the past to thank the Lord and those who have worked here before ourselves, should not fail to turn to the future. With this hope we are being called to commit ourselves to the re-launching of our charism.”

After the Gospel the Rector Major gave his reassurances that the eyes and the attention of the Congregation were turned to Argentina which in these days is experiencing an historic event in its Salesian history. “This is the land of the first missionary dream; Argentina began to make the work of the Valdocco oratory international!”

“We are living at a marvellous time,” the IXth successor of Don Bosco explained referring to the recently concluded 150th anniversary of the foundation and the approaching centenary of the death of Blessed Michael Rua.

In a few moving words Fr Chávez recalled the tragedy in Haiti and the large number of victims of the earthquake.

Early in the afternoon the Rector Major, Fr Bortolomé and Fr Vitali, with Fr Angel Fernandez Artime, the new Provincial of ARS, set out for Ushuaia, where the southernmost Salesian community is to be found.

Having arrived in the evening they were met by Fabiana Ríos, Governor of Ushuaia, who welcomed the Rector Major and his companions in an airport lounge. Here the minutes were read which granted the Rector Major the title of “Guest of Honour” of the Province of Tierra del Fuego.

Outside the airport a small welcoming committee of youngsters from Ushuaia was waiting for the Rector Major.

Published 28/01/2010