Over a thousand people from the Salesian houses in the three States in the south of Brazil that make up the Province were present and went in procession though several streets of the city before stopping at the sanctuary dedicated to Mary Help of Christians. Here Fr José Valmor Cesar Teixeira, the outgoing Provincial gave a short history of the Province, first set up as a Vice Province by Fr Renato Ziggiotti in 1958 and then made the “Saint Pius X” Province in 1963.
This was followed in the auditorium of the “Dom Bosco” Institute by a performance of “Sonho de Dom Bosco” (Don Bosco’s Dream), prepared by the students and staff of the Don Bosco Education Centre in Joinville.
Afterwards in the Cathedral at the culmination of the pilgrimage, the Mass of thanksgiving for the 50 years of the Province was celebrated . During the Mass the new Provincial Fr Orestes Carlinhos Fistarol assumed office. At the Mass, concelebrated by about thirty priests, present also were Bishops Tito Buss and José Jovêncio Balestrieri SDB, both retired Bishops of Rio do Sul.
At the end of Mass there was the crowning of the statue of Mary Help of Christians on the High Altar of the Cathedral.
Published 28/05/2008
