The celebration began on 6 November at the facilities of the Salesian school. Fr Francisco Javier Altamirano Álvarez, SDB, Director of the Community of Metropolitan Schools and General Director of the Institute, welcomed the academic authorities and all the educational communities representing the many and diverse fruits of that first seed sown that distant year: 1892.
After the civic rituals, at 8 am, a presentation followed to describe the events giving rise to the first envoy of five Salesians to Mexico by Blessed Michele Rua, the Successor of Don Bosco. These men were, indeed, pioneers: Fr Angelo Piccono, Fr Raffaele Piperni, Fr Simone Visintainer, the Salesian Coadjutor Pietro Tagliaferri, and the cleric in formation Agostino Osella.
As part of the celebratory rites, assisted by the schoolchildren, Fr Altamirano released 125 balloons - one for each year of the center's activity -, with the balloons ascending into the sky representing present and past Salesian students as well as the pastoral and educational efforts of many religious, lay people, teachers and parents who all together contributed to the formation of generations of Mexicans and entrusted, to God, the education of their children.
Also present was a delegation of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians from the South Mexico Province led by Sister Beatriz Muñoz Martines, FMA, General Director of the "Civilización y Cultura" School. Fr Altamirano gave Sr Muñoz a tiger-shaped doll, inspired by Santa Julia's mascot, as well as a copy of the celebratory history book: "El Colegio Salesiano de Santa Julia. El más antiguo de las Obras Salesianas de México."
The students of the institute each received a copy of the book, along with a school badge, and a snack, a sweet treat, to end the festivities.
