(ANS – Santo Domingo) – On Tuesday 14 May, in the presence of the President of the Senate of the Dominican Republic, Reynaldo Pared Pérez, a Salesian past pupil, the Salesians of the Antilles Province received recognition for their contribution to the overall development of the children and young people of the country.

The prize was awarded on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the St John Bosco Parish in the capital, and of the first Salesian educational work in the Dominican Republic.  It was known at the time as the School of Arts and Trades but is now the Salesian Technical Institute.

In a separate act, the House of Deputies gave official recognition to Fr Julio Alberto Soto, the first Salesian from the Dominican Republic to have reached 50 years of priesthood, for his contribution to the evangelization of the Dominican people, and for the Sunday Mass he celebrated for many years on state television.

The awards were made at the end of a Solemn Eucharist.

The recognition was granted on the authority of Senator Adriano Sanchez Roa, “in honour of the visit of the urn with the relics of Don Bosco, Father and Teacher of the youth of the Dominican Republic, and in anticipation of the bicentenary of his birth in two years’ time.”

Senator Sánchez Roa was the promoter of the initiative to grant recognition to the Salesians, which was approved unanimously. He also asked the Postal Service of the Dominican Republic to issue a stamp commemorating the presence of the Sons of Don Bosco in the country.

Published 16/05/2013