Rector Major's Trip Marks 125 Years of Salesian Presence in U.S.

Rector Major’s Trip Marks 125 Years of Salesian Presence in U.S.

(ANS – Rome – November 15, 2022) – On Nov. 15 the Rector Major begins a trip to the two provinces of the United States on account of the 125th anniversary of Salesian presence in the country. Don Bosco’s 10th successor was due to land at 4:00 p.m. PST in Los Angeles, where he begins with a visit to the Western United States province that will last until Monday, Nov. 21.

From the 21st until Friday, Nov. 25, Fr. Angel Fernandez Artime will visit the Salesian houses of the Eastern United States and Canada Province and will also add luster with his presence to another significant anniversary: 75 years of Salesian Missions, the Salesian mission office of New Rochelle.

The Rector Major will be accompanied by the general councilor for the Salesians’ Interamerica Region, Fr. Hugo Orozco. The two will meeting with the Salesians of the Bellflower, Calif., community on Tuesday evening.

On Wednesday, Nov. 16, he will go to the Bishop Mora Salesian house to meet young people from several Salesian houses, followed by a visit to the work in Boyle Heights. The day will end with an evening of celebration at the Salesian Family Youth Center.

On Thursday morning, Nov. 17, the Rector Major will visit Don Bosco Technical Institute in Rosemead, and in the afternoon he’ll preside over a Mass in honor of St. Artemides Zatti for the local Salesian Family at St. Dominic Savio School in Bellflower.

On Friday, Nov. 18, after a morning Mass with the Bellflower school children and the Salesian sisters in honor of the 150th anniversary of the Sisters, the Rector Major will fly to northern California to visit Don Bosco Hall in Berkeley in the afternoon and then have a dialog with local Salesians in Richmond.

The morning of Saturday the 19th will be devoted to a meeting with the provincial council, while the afternoon will see a Eucharistic celebration of thanksgiving for 125 years of Salesian presence in the country, at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in San Francisco. All significant anniversaries of ordination or profession of Salesians will also be celebrated on the occasion.

On Sunday the 20th, the first part of the Rector Major’s visit to the U.S. will be completed with a Mass in Spanish at the Corpus Christy community, including the reception of the promises of several new Salesian Cooperators, and a visit to the city of San Francisco.

On Monday, Nov. 21, after flying from the West Coast to the East Coast, the Rector Major will have just enough time for an evening of acquaintance with leaders, friends, and supporters of Don Bosco Cristo Rey, a school co-sponsored by the Salesians and the archdiocese of Washington, which has been in operation for 15 years and is directed by the Salesians.

The following day, Nov. 22, will be devoted precisely to learning more about Don Bosco Cristo Rey school and corporate work program, and the young people who attend it. In the afternoon the Rector Major will travel by Amtrak to the Provincial Center in New Rochelle to attend an evening celebration for the 75th anniversary of Salesian Missions.

On Wednesday the 23d, the main events will be a visit to Salesian High School and the mission office; a meeting with the provincial council; and Mass in Port Chester, N.Y., with a subsequent meeting with members of the Salesian Family.

On his penultimate day of the visit, Thursday, Nov. 24, the Rector Major is scheduled to visit the Salesian Sisters’ community at Haledon, N.J., and then spend Thanksgiving Day with the Salesians at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J., spending the afternoon with them for talks and conversation.

Before departing for Europe on Friday, November 25, Fr. Fernandez will still have time for a meeting with Salesians in initial formation and their formators in Orange, N.J.