On his arrival in the chapel of the Bilingual Special Educational Unit "Spellman", the venue for the meeting, the participants welcomed him with applause and the 10th Successor of Don Bosco was thus able to perceive all the warmth and affection of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), Salesian Cooperators, “Damas Salesianas”, members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians….

Fr Á.F. Artime then presided over the Eucharist for the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the FMA Institute, flanked by Fr Francisco Sánchez, Provincial of ECU, and by Msgr. Alfredo Espinoza, archbishop of Quito.

During the homily, he congratulated the FMA on this anniversary and told them that “it is a time to thank the Lord of Life because thanks to Him it is possible to remember these years of Salesian life ... because it is the Spirit who has wanted it. A time to give thanks for the existence of so many sisters who gave their lives until the end of their days.”

He then left an important message to the Salesian Family: “We are called to be a group of people capable of transmitting an outlook of hope. When there is no hope, it is we who must do it; our homes must be an alternative, they must offer something special. The Salesian Family is not just about feeling well and being happy among us: we are like this because we have something to offer with what we carry in our hearts.”

At the end of the Eucharist a debate was held on the theme: “What does the Rector Major expect from the Salesian Family today?”, which began with the words of Sister Cruz María Piña, Provincial of the FMA in Ecuador, who gave a warm welcome to the Rector Major and referred to the common charism that God has given them, as a family and whose mission, in the Church and in society, is the care of young people, adults, preferably the poor, the abandoned, those in need and in danger. “They are the protagonists and recipients of education and evangelization,” she concluded.

During his speech, the X Successor of Don Bosco did not want to remain seated on the stage that had been prepared and decided to stand up and speak in front of the audience who listened attentively to his words. To a question about what he expects from the Salesian Family in Ecuador, his response was the following: "Well, I will surprise you because I will ask few things from you. First of all, that you are all good men and women, that you are saints... that you are beautiful Christian couples, that you are consecrated lay people in the world with a strong personality and a strong spirituality."

Finally, the meeting concluded with various artistic performances and Fr Á.F. Artime was symbolically named an honorary member of the Past Pupils Association of the "Don Bosco" Technical Institute of La Kennedy, for which he received the appropriate membership card.

The visit of the Rector Major continues today, Friday 11 February, with the following appointments:

Meeting with the Provincial Council and the Rectors

- Chapel of the Provincial House (7:00 am - UTC-5)

Meeting with the young people of the Salesian Youth Movement (SYM)

- Gymnasium of the Salesian Polytechnic University - "El Girón" campus (9:00 am)

Meeting with Salesians and lay people

- Theater of the "Don Bosco" La Kennedy Technical Institute (4 pm).

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