“These 125 years are a testimony to the strength of Don Bosco's preventive system and how Salesian values continue to guide our journey. This anniversary has invited us to take a look at the past to renew our commitment to the future, always at the service of young people and the Gospel,” said the rector and parish priest.

An unforgettable year

The anniversary celebrations began with the opening ceremony presided over by the superior of the province, Fernando Miranda, on 1 December 2023, where he stated that “125 years ago, we Salesians arrived in this place, sent to sow the seeds of the Salesian charism in a land of orchards and fields, with little future for many. And this charism is still here today, rooted and bearing fruit.”

The celebrations continued with a pilgrimage to the Basilica de los Desamparados, carrying the image of Saint Anthony Abbot, patron saint of the Salesian parish. The feast of St. John Bosco, on 31 January, was marked by gratitude for these 125 years of ‘living history’, as the anniversary motto says. These were days of remembering the milestones, the names and the people who have passed through this Salesian house with various school activities and thanks to the city. The provincial celebration that brought together all the Salesians of the Mary Help of Christians province, on 17 February 2024, also highlighted the Salesian presence's work of closeness and love for the most vulnerable.

The visit of the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, was an important event for all the members of the eductive and pastoral community, who were able to celebrate a festive and family celebration with Don Bosco's successor from 26 to 28 April. In his words: ‘Salesian values are a beacon for young generations and a guide towards a hopeful future’.

To close the school year, from 28 to 30 June, parishioners from the parish visited Barcelona to get to know the places where Don Bosco was and to refresh their Salesian identity and charism as continuers of this Living History in Valencia.

With this closing act of the 125th anniversary, which also marks the beginning of Advent, The Salesians in San Antonio Abad in Valencia close a year of homage to the past, to the present and which will sustain the hopeful future of a house that has always been and will always be at the service of children and young people in the city of Valencia.

Simple beginnings in 1898

On 28 November 1898, Blessed Philip Rinaldi, Provincial of Salesian Spain, saw the beginning of this work in the neighbourhood of Sagunto Street. A house that, with simple beginnings, had some splendid moments from its origins until the decade 1910-1920 thanks to the work of Salesians such as Guillermo Viñas, a rector who left a deep mark on this work. Later, after the gloom of the civil war, it managed to recover its tireless service in the decades 1946-1966, in collaboration with the archbishop of Valencia, the Salesian Marcelino Olaechea, with a pastoral stamp that left deep roots.

A complete Salesian house

The Salesian school currently serves 1,600 students thanks to the work of 105 educators and almost 80 administrative and service staff. The Social Platform serves 300 people in 11 different projects thanks to 60 educators and 20 volunteers. The Amics Youth Centre, every Saturday, opens its doors to 518 children and adolescents from the neighbourhood thanks to the free dedication of 72 leaders, young people between 18 and 25 years of age.

It is a complete Salesian house, with all the pastoral settings and a series of proposals aimed at the education and evangelisation of young people (Education in the Faith Itinerary, Educational Sports, Vocational Animation, Youth Centre) to make them, in the words of Don Bosco, upright citizens and good Christians. It is a house that focuses especially on caring for boys and girls in situations of greater vulnerability in all areas and, above all, in the various social projects. The house also houses a series of Provincial Services, and the headquarters of the Ángel Tomás Solidarity Initiative Foundation and the ONG Don Bosco Global. In addition, the parish of San Antonio Abad has the Sodality that bears the same name, famous in the city for the event it organises every 17 January, and the Association of Mary Help of Christians.

Source: Salesianos.info 

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