Brazil – Salesians’ arrival in Camaçari announced with solemn Mass

12 January 2023

(ANS - Camaçari) - Last Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, during a solemn Mass in honor of St. Thomas of Canterbury, patron saint of the municipality of Camaçari, it was announced that the Sons of Don Bosco will open a school in that city, located in the state of Bahia, Brazil. The announcement came from the Bishop of the Diocese of Camaçari, Msgr. Dirceu de Oliveira Medeiros, and Bishop Emeritus of Camaçari, Msgr. Giancarlo Petrini, who in breaking the news expressed all their enthusiasm.

The celebration was attended by those in charge of the Salesian Province "St. Louis Gonzaga" of Brazil-Recife (BRE) and the Salesian educational network, starting with Fr. Francisco Inácio, BRE Provincial.

Bishop Petrini also emphasized that the Salesian presence is extremely important, especially from the educational point of view. Bishop Emeritus expressed true satisfaction in seeing the growth of the diocese through the collaboration and commitment of religious in the service of education.

The presence in Camaçari will be the first of the Salesians in Bahia outside the state capital. The Salesian school, which will be named "Dom Bosco," will initially cater to Primary Education students, with extracurricular afternoon activities offered as well. "There will definitely be an elementary school and, at the appropriate time, a high school. Who knows, maybe later, even a university," the prelate added.

On the occasion, the BRE Provincial spoke of the new pathway opened by this presence in Camaçari. "They will not lack divine help, nor the solicitude of the pastor of this diocese; they will not lack the fraternity of our Province, and even less will they lack the work and courage, to the end, for the education and total salvation of the future generations of this city," he said.

Officializing the opening of the new unit of the Salesians of Bahia by reading the decree of the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, Fr. Inácio blessed the institution's new path in the municipality. "May we be blessed by St. Dulce of the Poor, the good angel of Bahia, who attended our Salesian house in the ‘Nazareth’ parish in Salvador, thus uniting our stories in the charity of the Saints," he concluded.

Also present at the solemn celebration, which was attended by many faithful, educators and members of the Camaçari community, were Fr. Eudes Barreto, Director of the Salesians of Bahia, Fr. Maurício Carlos Lima, assigned as Director of the Salesian school "Dom Bosco" in Camaçari; Fr. Idelfonso Mesquita, Pastoral Coordinator of the Salesian high school in Salvador; Fr. Cleiton Coutinho, Pastoral Coordinator of the Salesian school "Dom Bosco - Paralela"; Cristina França and Deraldo Brito, Educational Manager and Administrative Manager, respectively, of the same school.

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