(ANS – Campo Grande)– On Wednesday 8 April, the Salesian Province of Brazil-Campo Grande and the Mission of Mato Grosso welcomed the Councillor General for the Missions, Fr Guillermo Basañes. On arrival in Campo Grande, the Councillor visited the elderly missionaries resident in the Paul VI care home. Later he met the Provincial Council and the Provincial Pastoral Team.

During the meeting, Fr Basañes stressed the importance of missionary animation in all the Provinces of the Congregation and insisted on the need to preserve the memory of our missionary activity. "It is important that new generations know the story of the province," he said. After the meeting he celebrated Mass in the Chapel of St. Joseph at the Provincial House.

In the afternoon he met with the Rector of the Don Bosco Catholic University, Fr Giuseppe Marinoni, and other academic authorities. At the Don Bosco Catholic University he visited the Study and Research Centre of Indigenous Peoples and the Centre for Indigenous Documentation.

Speaking with Bororo, Xavante and Terena students, he encouraged them to take their studies seriously and he thanked them for their dedication to the university. "Your presence here is a mutual enrichment. It is a benefit to you and to the university. Congratulations for being here, and courage!" he said.

In the evening Fr Basañes was brought to the Don Bosco Museum of Cultures in the Park of the Indigenous Nations. The museum was founded by the Salesian Mission of Mato Grosso in 1951 and is known throughout the world for the scientific rigour of its ethnographic collection.

Yesterday the Councillor for the Missions went to the village of Sangradouro, where he was to meet with the missionaries of the Salesian Family working in the region. Today he will be in Meruri.

His visit will end tomorrow in the village of San Marcos. On Sunday Fr Basañes will return to Campo Grande and leave for the Salesian Province of Manaus.

Published 10/04/2015