(ANS – Tijuana) – The “Tijuana Salesian Project”, one of the most significant works of the Mexico-Guadalajara Province is celebrating this year the first 25 years of its service on behalf of the young.

On Saturday 17 March, therefore, the Salesians and the young people of Tijuana – a frontier city, in the State of Lower California celebrated to commemorate its foundation in 1987 by some Salesians-Cooperators and with the support of various benefactors. With Tijuana a new style of Don Bosco Oratory came into being, the particular characteristics of which reflected the special context of the city, on the border between Mexico and the United States. In this way from the place where according to the people of Tijuana, “the fatherland began”, the Mexico-Guadalajara Province has extended its borders and its horizons.

The day of festivities began with a Mass  in the Don Bosco oratory, at which the Archbishop Rafael Romo of Tijuana presided and  various Salesians concelebrated  including Fr Salvador C. Murguia, Superior of the Salesians in Guadalajara. In his homily, in front of about 1,000 people, Archbishop Romo spoke about the social significance of the service by the Church and by the Salesians as part of it.

In the evening about 200 people took part in a social event during which presentations were made to some benefactors, members of the council and  to Salesians who had worked there.

Celebrations marking the first 25 years of the Salesian presence in Tijuana have already been held for several months and will continue until the beginning  of 2013. In this time there will be other events to thank those who have supported the work of the Salesians, which now includes 6 oratories, a parish and a social centre which every day provides a meal in the morning for many migrants.

During these 25 years about 200 youth leaders have  helped in the Salesian oratories in Tijuana; young people and adults from Mexico, but also from other countries such as  Austria, Spain, Holland Italy, the Czech Republic, Chile, Uruguay and the United States.

Published 27/03/2012