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Just outside Rio Grande, in southern Patagonia is the old mission founded by the Salesians in 1898. The third stage in the progress of the first Salesians in the area the old mission retains some precious significant historical memories: the small church dedicated to ”Nuestra Sra de la Candelaria”, the first house of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, that of the Salesians and an historical museum dedicated to “Bishop Fagnano”.
Yesterday morning, 29 January, the Rector Major visited the old mission. Welcomed by a representative group of the educative pastoral community, Salesians, Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, adults and youngsters he went into the historic little church built by the Salesian missionary Fr Juan Fagnano, who had become Prefect Apostolic of southern Patagonia.
As the Rector Major entered the small wooden building Fr José Ticó, director of the museum gave him a poncho which had belonged to the Salesian missionary. The Rector of the Salesian house in Rio Grande, Fr Fabian Alonso, led a short moment of prayer. Fr Chávez then spoke recalling the good done and the great commitment of the first Salesian missionaries sent to Patagonia; referring to the imminent unification of the Provinces he asked from those present a renewed commitment to the re-launching of the Salesian charism. Then some incidents associated with the little church and with the mission were recalled. The old missionary complex has been declared a National Monument by the Argentine authorities.
Special attention was given to the visit to the “Bishop Fagnano” historical museum. Fr Ticó showed Fr Chávez and his companions relics and pictures recalling the arrival and the development of the Salesians in Rio Grande and in Tierra del Fuego: pictures, objects and other exhibits which document the great missionary zeal of the first Salesian.
Guided by the Director and other lay staff the Rector Major visited the premises of the agrotechnical school in the historical Salesian mission which now has about 340 students.
Early in the afternoon the Rector Major returned to Buenos Aires and then went first to Rosario, where in the afternoon of 30 January he will meet the Argentinian Salesian Youth Movement and then to San Nicolás where he will celebrate the Feast of Don and preside at the installation of the two new Provincials Fr Angel Fernandez Artime and Fr Manuel Eduardo Cayo.
Published 30/01/2010
Related captions:
Photo 6: Photographs of the first mission at Bahía San Sebastian, the first stage (1893)
Photo 7: The first house of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians
Photo 8: Interior of the historic Salesian house
Photo 9: Exterior of the Salesian house
