(ANS – San Salvador) – In the context of the celebrations for the centenary of the presence of the Salesians in Central America, on Saturday 22 October, the Rector Major of the Salesians received a Doctorate “Honoris Causa” from the “Universidad Don Bosco” in Soyapango.

Dr. Federico Huguet, Rector of the Universidad Don Bosco (UDB), spoke explaining the reasons for the award to the Rector Major. Then Fr Alejandro Hernández, Provincial of Central America, spoke about the man Fr Chávez, in particular his human qualities, his mode of exercising his authority and the way he throws light on the problems of the world of youth and offers the necessary pastoral guidelines.

In his reply the Rector Major gave an overview of the current crisis facing today’s world and explained the need to see education not as simply the transmission of knowledge, but as the art forming individuals. Among those present at the ceremony were  Fr Adriano Bregolin, Vicar of the Rector Major, Fr Fabio Attard, General Councillor for Youth Ministry, the Nuncio Apostolic in El Salvador, Archbishop Luigi Pezzuto, the Salesian Bishop of Zacatecoluca, Bishop Elías Bolaños and many members  of the Salesian Family.

Then, yesterday Monday 24, at San Salvador, the Team Visit to the Interamerica Region, led by the Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez began. On the Agenda during the five days of the Visit will be the assessment of the assimilation in the Region of the guidelines from the  26 General Chapter and the challenges these present in each Province and the consequent proposals. At the end of the Visit possible suggestions for the next the 27th General Chapter will be considered.

Taking part in the Visit will be the 12 Provincials and one Superior of  a Vice Province  from: United States, Mexico, Central America, Haiti, Antilles, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Perù and Bolivia. Each Superior is also accompanied by a team of Councillors. With the Rector Major are Fr Bregolin, Fr Attard, Fr Francesco Cereda, General Councillor for Formation, Fr Václav Klement, Councillor for the Missions and the Economer General, Brother Jean Paul Muller.

The Team Visit, which takes place every six years, will end on 28 October.

Published 25/10/2011