(ANS - Valencia)- "On the occasion of the Bicentenary of the Birth of Don Bosco, on Tuesday 11 November, the Mayor of Valencia conferred the Order Arturo Michelena on Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation," according to a report in the newspaper El Carabobeño.

The award was presented at the Don Bosco Institute  in the city by Maria Antonietta Storaci, Director of Institutional Relations of the City Council, and Junior Vivas, President of the Municipal Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents, representing the Mayor Miguel Cocchiola.  The same award was given to the Salesian school represented by the Principal, Fidel Moreno, and Educational Director, Fr Gustavo Santana.

The award was given in recognition of the work of the Salesians in the development of the city, in promoting belief in God, values, culture, education, science and the arts, especially on behalf of the young people of the city of Valencia.

During the ceremony, the Rector Major Fr Á.F. Artime blessed a bust of Don Bosco recently restored and now located at the entrance of the Salesian Institute.

In the same ceremony, the leaders of the Salesian School conferred on the city Mayor, Miguel Cocchiola - through his representatives who were present there - the Botón de Honor of the institution, citing him as a faithul collaborator with the Church and a tireless worker for peace and the family.

Students, teachers and visitors ended the day with Salesian songs, fireworks and a visit to the exhibition of the school band.  A minute’s silence was observed to  commemorate the two Salesians killed last February - Fr Jesús Erasmus Plaza Salessi and Brother Luis Edilberto Sánchez Morantes - who had worked for young people at the Don Bosco Institute in Valencia.

Published 13/11/2014