(ANS – Barahona) – To celebrate the 34th anniversary of the diocese of Barahona, in the Dominican Republic, on Monday 28 September the Senate of the Dominican Republic publicly honoured the first Bishop of the diocese, the Salesian Bishop Fabio Mamerto Rivas Santos.
Now the Bishop emeritus of the diocese Bishop Fabio Mamerto Rivas Santos, has been honoured for his extraordinary pastoral work over the years: for the spiritual development, the social peace and the collective welfare of thousands of men and women in the south of the country in one of the poorest areas on the frontier with Haiti.
The honour highlights the work of the Catholic Church in the region of Enriquillo, the seat of the diocese, as it provided for the accompaniment of thousands of young people through its programmes of guidance, spiritual direction and academic formation.
The Senate of the Dominican Republic observed that the Diocese had supported hundreds of projects in the educational, cultural, social and religious fields, to which the Bishop emeritus of the diocese had always made a significant contribution so that they might be achieved.
Bishop Rivas Santos was the first bishop of the diocese of Barahona erected on 25 April 1976 by Pope Paul VI. Ordained by Cardinal Octavio Antonio Beras, Bishop Rivas Santos was the second Salesian bishop in the Antilles, preceded only by Archbishop Ricardo Pittini Piussi of Santo Domingo between 1935 and 1961.
Published 30/09/2010
