RMG – SDB Provinces: The "Divine Savior" Province of Central America (CAM)

07 March 2025
RMG – SDB Provinces: The "Divine Savior" Province of Central America (CAM)

(ANS – Rome) – The Salesian presence in the countries that now form the "Divine Savior" Province of Central America began in 1897 with the arrival of the first Salesians in El Salvador and the founding of the first Salesian works in the country. In 1903, it was officially established as a province, with Fr. Giuseppe Misieri appointed as its first Provincial.

According to Fr. Misieri’s own chronicles, the first group of Salesians sent by Fr. Michele Rua, Don Bosco’s first successor, arrived at the port of La Libertad, El Salvador, on December 3, 1897, after a month-long journey by sea. The group included Fr. Luigi Calcagno, the mission leader, Fr. Misieri, Fr. Giuseppe Menichinelli, Brothers Stefano Tosini, Basilio Rocca, and Francesco Stanga, as well as young Salesians in formation: Pedro Martín, Konstanty Kopczyk, and Louis Salmon.

These nine Salesians, together with seven others who joined them on January 2, 1899, laid the foundation for a thriving Salesian mission in Central America that has now lasted for over 127 years.

Driven by their missionary zeal, the Salesians quickly won the affection of the local population, who offered significant support to strengthen their early initiatives. In the early 1900s, in Santa Tecla, they laid the foundations for what would become the province's motherhouse: Colegio Santa Cecilia.

Despite numerous challenges, the seeds planted by the first Sons of Don Bosco in El Salvador soon flourished in other Central American countries: Costa Rica (1907), Panama (1907), Honduras (1911), Nicaragua (1911), and Guatemala (1929). In less than forty years, the Salesians had established themselves across Central America, carrying out important educational and pastoral work.

Present-Day Salesian Presence in CAM

Today, the Central American Province (CAM) spans six countries and includes:

  • 18 educational institutions
  • 9 vocational training centers
  • 12 parishes
  • 17 oratories
  • 11 public churches
  • 5 youth centers
  • 2 universities
  • 4 foundations

The Salesian presence in the CAM Province involves 3,219 collaborators, serving over 94,840 people.

The Salesian Family in CAM

The Salesian mission is also shared with various groups of the Salesian Family present in the province:

  • The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA)
  • The Daughters of the Divine Savior (HDS)
  • The Sisters of the Resurrection
  • The Salesian Cooperators (SSCC)
  • The Damas Salesianas (ADS)
  • The Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA)
  • The Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB)
  • The Volunteers with Don Bosco (CDB)
  • The Sons of the Good Shepherd and the Daughters of the Good Shepherd, who also share in the Salesian spirituality.

Salesians in the CAM Province

The province currently has 151 Salesians, including:

  • 123 perpetually professed Salesians
  • 25 temporarily professed Salesians
  • 3 novices

Among them are 104 priests, 11 Salesian brothers, and 36 young men in formation, including 14 from Mexico (Provinces MEM and MEG) and 4 from Colombia (Provinces COB and COM).

Key Salesian Projects in CAM

Among the most important initiatives of the CAM Province are:

Missionary Work in Carchá, Guatemala

In the municipality of Alta Verapaz, northern Guatemala, a Salesian community of eight priests oversees a parish, a school, and over 300 Q’eqchí communities.

Additionally, Alta Verapaz hosts two major Salesian educational projects:

  • Centro Don Bosco, founded by Fr. Antonio de Groot, SDB, and the Missionaries of Christ the Good Shepherd, provides education and training for over 3,500 young people, primarily from rural and marginalized communities in northern Guatemala. The institution serves students from eight departments, 32 municipalities, and 1,098 communities.
  • Talita Kumi Foundation, led by Fr. Jorge Puthenpura, SDB, in collaboration with the Sisters of the Resurrection, serves over 1,300 students, mostly young indigenous women from rural areas. Through a partnership with the Mesoamerican University of Alta Verapaz, more than 800 indigenous women receive a university education.

"Valdocco of America" in Panama

A major Salesian initiative in Panama is the "Valdocco of America", which offers young people and adults across the continent a visual and emotional connection to St. John Bosco’s legacy. This innovative project consists of three main elements:

  • The urn of Don Bosco, containing a significant relic of the saint
  • A replica of Don Bosco’s birthplace
  • A Salesian museum, complementing the Basilica of Don Bosco in Panama City, which serves as a focal point of Salesian spirituality in the region.

127 Years of Salesian Impact in Central America

For over 127 years, the Salesians of Don Bosco in Central America have made an indelible impact in education, evangelization, and youth accompaniment. Their commitment to the Salesian charism continues to inspire new generations, leaving behind a legacy of hope, faith, and service that transcends borders and looks toward the future with renewed dedication.

?️ A video highlighting the Salesian activities in CAM Province is available on ANSChannel.

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.infoans.org/en/component/k2/item/23669-rmg-sdb-provinces-the-divine-savior-province-of-central-america#sigProId4a7ee45f42

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