Pakistan Past Pupils Continue Salesian Education

Pakistan Past Pupils Continue Salesian Education

Remembering Fr. Peter Zago

(ANS – Quetta, Pakistan – June 19, 2024) – From the time of Charles Gastini ca. 1870, the Past Pupils of Don Bosco have been an active and prominent pillar of the Salesian mission. And they are often even more noteworthy in places on the peripheries of the mission, where the good stirred up by the first Salesian houses is beginning to bear fruit in seeds of good that they do not want to lose This is clearly visible today in Pakistan, where the Past Pupils of Don Bosco are working to save a school founded by the late missionary Fr. Peter Zago from closing.

Fr.  Zago (1935-2017) spent 62 of his almost 83 years of life as a missionary, serving the young people of India, Indonesia, East Timor, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and finally Pakistan, where he spent his last 18 years. He founded the two works currently in that country (Quetta and Lahore) and contributed actively to the support of refugees and the poor and to the reconstruction of villages after the earthquake of 2005 and the floods of 2010.

With his initiative, together with that of his mission companions, Fr. Zago profoundly influenced the lives of countless children in Pakistan. Today his legacy survives through these institutions, which continue to embody his dedication and love for education and the underprivileged.

Last December, the National Federation of Past Pupils had the opportunity to visit Quetta to establish the elections of the local unit. During this trip they also made a visit to Ziarat, a district of Quetta, to see another school, also started in the early 2000s by Fr. Zago.

“We were all deeply moved by the warm welcome and the obvious impact of Fr. Zago's work,” testified Asif Boota, national vice president of the Past Pupils of Pakistan. “But the opening address given by the school’s principal revealed an unexpected and heartbreaking situation: the school was at risk of closure due to insufficient funds.”

The news was disappointing for all present, including Bro. Francis Nhat, Salesian delegate for the local unit of the Past Pupils in Quetta. After the initial disappointment, Mr. Boota tried to explore the possibilities of intervention together with the director of the house in Lahore, Fr. Noble Lal, the president of the Quetta unit of the Past Pupils, Awaish Yousaf, and the director of this work, Fr. Samuel Ghouri.

So now, at the proposal of Fr. Ghouri, the National Federation of Past Pupils of Pakistan is working to develop a solid operational plan that will allow it to take responsibility for the management of this school, and to explore ways to prevent the closure of this vital institution for young people in Ziarat and throughout Quetta.

“We are now formulating and discussing the plan with the Salesian community, and we are all determined to honor Fr. Zago by ensuring that this school remains operational and continues to provide quality education to the children of Ziarat. We recognize the profound importance of this center and are committed to mobilizing resources to support it,” Mr. Boota said.

Currently the National Past Pupils of Don Bosco Federation in Pakistan plans to sign a detailed contract that provides for the management of the school in Ziarat for one year, based on compliance with certain parameters. Subsequently, the National Federation entrusted the management of that school to the local unit of the Past Pupils in Quetta, but continued to monitor all activities.

For this reason, concludes the national vice president of Past Pupils of Pakistan: “This agreement would not only honor the legacy of Fr. Zago, but would also guarantee the continuity of education and service to the less privileged of Ziarat and Quetta. I am sure, sir, that together we will be able to support the mission of Don Bosco and the dear memory of Fr.  Peter Zago, ensuring that his vision of education and service to the underprivileged continues.”