Bulgaria - New Salesian presence in Stara Zagora under construction
Stara Zagora, Bulgaria - March 2020 - The Salesians have been present in Bulgaria for 25 years. In the photograph, the Salesian community is portrayed in the location where the new Salesian presence is rising in Stara Zagora, in the city center. Next to the city's Roma district, the Salesians are building a school, a beautiful temple in the style of the Eastern rite, the only temple that the Salesian Congregation is currently building in Europe, and the home of the community. A sign of faith, unity and peace. This is how the wishes that Pope Francis expressed during his visit to the country in May last year have materialized. All the work done so far has been possible thanks to the support of the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, and to the many people who have helped in different ways, especially the many volunteers who came mainly from the Czech Republic. All this gives much hope in the midst of the difficulty generated by accelerated depopulation, resulting from the emigration of many young people and a very low birth rate. This project, entrusted to the hands of Mary Help of Christians, will hopefully be of great help to the area's children and young people, offering them a space in which they can live the family spirit taught by Don Bosco.