Argentina - Yesterday's history redefines the present: 130th anniversary of Salesians’ arrival in Rawson

20 July 2022

(ANS - Rawson) - 130 years ago the Salesians arrived in the Patagonian town of Rawson, and 81 years ago the Salesian Regional Museum was created to commemorate this date. On the occasion of these two anniversaries, last July 2, the Salesian presence in Rawson had a wonderful experience, reliving the events of these long years of history.

The entire community participated in the event, along with primary and secondary school students and the Suyay Kalen dance troupe. During the commemoration, moreover, actors from small theater companies recreated historical scenes from the arrival of the Salesians. Numerous activities were planned, including a visit to the Salesian Regional Museum, guided and coordinated by Ms. Cintia Navas.

Rawson is the place the Salesians adopted to offer their missionary, educational and evangelizing work in the lands of Chubut. Rawson is indeed a meeting place for natives, settlers, Creoles, and missionaries in search of the dream of a better life. The first Salesian to set foot in these places, in 1892, was Fr. Pietro Bonacina, who arrived with the clear intention of helping the community, especially the children. Only a week after his arrival, he began calling young people to a nascent oratory.

His successor was Fr. Bernardo Vacchina. On December 26, 1892, he decided to put his plan of action in writing: to open a school for boys and one for girls, to establish an orphanage, a school of arts and crafts for natives, Catholics and Protestants, and to open an infirmary for the needy. The ultimate work, however, the one involving the greatest sacrifices and costs, was the evangelization of the many tribes in the Cordillera. All these goals were carried out, with commitment and sacrifice, by many Salesians and lay people over the years.

Then, a year later, the activity of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians began. Ten years later the "Hospital del Buen Pastor" opened its doors, and in 1907 the weekly "La Cruz del Sur," the first Spanish-language newspaper in the province of Chubut, was printed. In this context of change and innovation, the Salesian Regional Museum was born on June 18, 1941. When the first steps were taken to build the museum, the community began to collaborate by donating important pieces of historical and natural value belonging to their families, which are now considered historical families in Chubut.

Today, the museum houses collections of Native Peoples, immigrants, city institutions, and Salesian work, as well as elements of Natural Sciences, Numismatics, and a Library.

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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