(ANS - Rio Grande) - On 10 November, the Salesian Agricultural School of Our Lady of Candelaria in the area known as "La Misión "in Rio Grande, Tierra del Fuego, celebrated the 120^th anniversary of the arrival of the first Salesian missionaries.

On 16 November 1883, the Holy See created the Apostolic Prefecture of southern Patagonia and appointed Mons. Joseph Fagnano, SDB, as its first Apostolic Administrator. From 1886 on, he visited the territory of Tierra del Fuego several times and in 1893 he chose the northern coast of the Rio Grande to start a work for the native people. This became the Salesian Mission of Our Lady of Candelaria.

On 6 November 1897, the Salesian Mission was moved to its current location near Capo Santo Domingo, 12 Km away from the city. The work was an indigenous mission and school, which in September 1946 became an Agricultural School.

In the words of Graciela Pesce, Director of the Institute, "The work of Salesian evangelization and education had the ability to change over time, to become an evangelizing mission for indigenous people, and then an agricultural school for younger pupils and a high school for the older ones."

During the celebrations for the 120^th anniversary, a historical documentary entitled "The Young People are La Misión” was shown. It was produced by the Salesian Bulletin of Argentina, from which readers can learn more about the work of the Salesians, from the time of their arrival in Tierra del Fuego to the present.

Published 14/11/2013