(ANS – Guadalajara) – The Province of "Christ the King and Mary Help of Christians" in Mexico-Guadalajara, canonically erected on the 30th of August 1963, opened the celebrations of its 50th  year of life. During these days the Provincial, Fr Salvador Cleophás Murguía Villalobos has sent a letter to the Salesians to animate them to live this important anniversary with a spirit of thanksgiving and proactive outreach.

Addressing the Salesians Fr Murguía Villalobos wrote: "we are invited to remember those who have laid the foundations for the growth of our Province and those who have taken the steps in its construction, the great historical events of salvation that we crossed and quality of contribution that we lived as Salesians, a reminder that at the same time makes us see our positive contribution to the lives of young people and their families".

"Thankful celebration of our past - the letter continues – means recognizing that God intervened and continues to do so. It is therefore a year of celebration but also a year of effort and initiatives that help us revitalize our vocation and mission".

The Province of Guadalajara was canonically erected on August 30, 1963. To celebrate this,  activities for the 50th anniversary, started last September 1st , will continue until the end of 2013. Several significant milestones ‘crop up’ through this year:

• 9th - 11th November, 2012: San Luis Potosí, Assembly of Salesian Youth movement.
• December 20, 2012: pilgrimage of all the Salesians of the Province to "El Cubilete", where Mgr. Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio in Mexico, will preside at the Eucharist, on the occasion of the traditional Christmas Provincial "Posada" procession. The celebration will continue with the profession of faith of the Salesians, marking the renewal of the Year of Faith, and the descent from the sanctuary to the Pre-novitiate of Irapuato, for a time for fraternal sharing.
• 8-10 February 2013: the presence of the Rector Major in the Province. Meeting with the young people attending Salesian works, members of the Salesian Family, the Salesians and the benefactors of the Province.
• 10-16 February 2013: at the House of Amatitán, Spiritual Retreat for the Rectors, preached by the Vicar of the Rector Major, Fr Adriano Bregolin. The opening and closing speeches will be delivered by Fr. Pascual Chávez, Rector Major.
• 6-8 September 2013: Campobosco.

Published 30/10/2012