Mariano Baptista, who had met the Salesians while serving as plenipotentiary minister in Buenos Aires, strongly desired the Salesian charism to be present in Bolivia. He fulfilled this dream during his presidency (1892–1896). On October 8, 1895, a formal agreement was signed in Turin, and Fr. Paolo Albera, Rector Major at the time, provided the personnel to establish two technical schools in La Paz and Sucre.

On Monday, January 13, 1896, fourteen Salesians departed from Buenos Aires to found the long-awaited institutions in Bolivia. They arrived in La Paz on February 17, during the height of Carnival celebrations, and were warmly welcomed by government officials and local society.

By order of the Bolivian government, the Salesians were officially granted the building, land, and assets of the former National Bolivian Institute located on the Avenida 16 de Julio street. This became the "School of Arts and Trades," initially serving 60 external students. A festive oratory was also launched, drawing 400 children and youth in its first week—a number that quickly grew to over 1,000. Initially, the Bolivian presence was part of the bi-national “Santa Rosa de Lima” Province based in Peru.

This arrangement continued until December 28, 1962, when the General Council, led by Rector Major Fr. Renato Ziggiotti, approved the creation of a new province. The Holy See confirmed the decision on January 9, 1963, and eight days later, the decree establishing the “Our Lady of Copacabana” Province was issued. Fr. Pedro Garnero was appointed its first Provincial. The province was entrusted with eight houses, five of which remain active today, albeit with evolved missions: the “Don Bosco” Institutes in La Paz and Cochabamba, the agricultural school “Muyurina” in Montero (Santa Cruz), the “Domingo Savio” Institute in Calacoto (La Paz), and the “Fatima-Don Bosco” retreat house in Cochabamba.

Thanks to the apostolic zeal of its early missionaries, partnerships with various Italian provinces, and the efforts of dedicated missionary giants, the Salesian presence in Bolivia took root and expanded. It extended to rural and farming communities, mining towns, and initiatives supporting children and youth at social risk or vulnerability. The original eight houses eventually grew to sixteen, supported by increased local vocations and committed lay collaborators who share the Salesian charism and mission.

A concrete example of this collaborative, synodal approach in formal education is the Don Bosco Popular Schools (EPDB, in Spanish)—a network of over 300 state-church partner schools across the country. These schools promote quality education and holistic development grounded in the Preventive System, especially among underprivileged youth and marginalized communities.

Following the same vision, Salesian educational efforts expanded into higher education with the founding of the Salesian University. This institution provides professional formation with a Christian anthropological perspective, giving disadvantaged youth the opportunity to pursue academic and professional careers they might not otherwise access.

In recent years, as part of its territorial reorganization, the Province has expanded to previously unimagined regions—most notably the Bolivian Amazon. A new presence has been established in the city of Cobija, capital of the Pando Department in the north of the country, where pastoral and educational initiatives are progressively taking root: from youth oratories and tutoring to outreach in vulnerable neighborhoods.

In nearly 130 years of service in Bolivia, the Salesians have “sunken deep roots” across the country. Through inculturation of the Salesian charism and a firm commitment to the integral education of the person—especially young people with limited resources—the Salesians, in collaboration with the wider Salesian Family and key institutional partners, have left a profound and enduring mark.

Here is a video that briefly presents the reality of the BOL Province.

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