La Boca is one of the 48 districts of Buenos Aires. It is a district of immigrants and after the yellow fever epidemic, in the 19th century, the poorest of the city settled there. People do not want to live there on a permanent basis. In is a “provisional” district.
In the district there are many colourful houses. Sailors decorate their houses with the paint that remains after painting their boats. It is a very beautiful place, but it is enough to walk in the streets to see the huge number of abandoned children and youth, who seem to be forgotten by their parents. “Here it is necessary to announce the Divine Mercy not only with words, but also in deeds”, stresses Fr. Pieróg.
Salesians take care of abandoned children and youth. They have a day nursery, a kindergarten, an elementary and a secondary school; they organize workshops, private lessons, and sports activities. But there is something that differentiates the Salesians: they stay with the children and the youth.
Fr. Pieróg narrates a revealing episode: “A three-year-old child used to come to our house. He asked for food, and once he received it, he put it aside. So, I approached him and asked him why he did so. His answer was overwhelming: ‘I take it to my smaller brothers’. Mercy makes itself heard even among the smallest ones”.
