(ANS - Barcelona) - On 26 November 2014, in the Council Chamber of the City of Barcelona, the city's mayor, Xavier Trias, conferred the Medal of Honour of the city of Barcelona on the Salesian work on Via Rocafort "for its contribution over 124 years to the education of the people and especially in favour of the most needy." The award was received by Fr Cristóbal López, Provincial of the Mary Help of Christian Province in Spain.

In 1890, four years after the visit of Don Bosco to Barcelona, the venerable Dorotea de Chopitea arraneged for the Salesians to take care of a new area of immigration, in the Eixample district of the city, to serve needy youth. The example of the Salesian work in Sarriá, also in Barcelona, in imitation of the oratory of Valdocco, was the precedent that attracted the interest of a city steeped in a profound process of social transformation.

Since then the work "Salesianos Rocafort" has been caring for children, teenagers and young adults in the San Antonio district with a wide range of activities, giving them an education based on the values of the Gospel.

Today the school offers educational programmes ranging from early childhood to high school, with a preferential option for the boys and girls who have most difficulty. The project includes educational initiatives for evangelization and youth leadership programmes that aim to instil commitment to those in need. It imparts an education centred on the person and aims to enable students to participate actively in building society.

As well as the school activities, the community also runs the La Navaira youth centre, various groups for formation and catechesis, the Association of Mary Help of Christians linked to the Shrine, theatre groups, the “Bosco Rocafort” Sports Club, the association of parents of students, the association of Salesian Cooperators, the Past Pupils, the Xaragall Choir, and other initiatives in the district of San Antonio.

The conferring ceremony of the Medal of Honour of the city of Barcelona marked the launch of celebrations for the 125th anniversary of the foundation of the work and the beginning of the celebrations for the Bicentenary of the Birth of Don Bosco.

Published 02/12/2014