RMG – SDB Provinces: The "Blessed Zepherino Namuncurá" Province of Southern Argentina (ARS)

13 March 2025
RMG – SDB Provinces: The "Blessed Zepherino Namuncurá" Province of Southern Argentina (ARS)

(ANS – Rome) – The Salesians’ arrival in Argentina was the beginning of their missionary journey. On December 14, 1875, the first ten Sons of Don Bosco set foot in the country. After that, they split up, with some venturing all the way to Patagonia.

However, the "Blessed Zepherino Namuncurá" Province of Southern Argentina (ARS) was established much more recently, in 2010, following the merger of three previous provinces: Buenos Aires (ABA), Bahía Blanca (ABB), and La Plata (ALP). A defining feature of this province has been the active involvement of laypeople in the leadership and governance of Salesian works, a commitment that was present from the beginning and continues to evolve.

Salesian Personnel

The province is home to 143 Salesians, including:

  • 114 priests
  • 19 coadjutors
  • 2 deacons
  • 2 bishops

Additionally, there are:

  • 137 perpetually professed members
  • 6 temporarily professed members
  • 1 novice

Salesian Houses

The province has an extensive network of 63 educational, pastoral, and social works spread across the territory, including:

  • 47 schools and 14 vocational training centers, providing formal education to over 60,000 students
  • 29 parishes, guiding the faith and life journey of thousands of people
  • 65 oratories and youth centers, serving as spaces for socialization and growth for countless children and young people
  • 1 university, Unisal in Bahía Blanca
  • 11 social outreach programs, focused on supporting vulnerable youth by providing education, vocational training, and assistance for overcoming addiction
  • Several missions among indigenous communities

The Salesian Family

Several groups share Don Bosco’s charism in the province, including:

  • Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB)
  • Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA)
  • Salesian Cooperators (SSCC)
  • Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA)
  • Past Pupils of Don Bosco
  • Past Pupils of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians
  • Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB)
  • Daughters of Charity of Jesus (CSJ)
  • Daughters of the Divine Savior (HDS)
  • Salesian Ladies (Damas Salesianas)
  • Volunteers with Don Bosco (CDB)
  • Congregation of St. Michael the Archangel (CSMA)
  • Community of the Mission of Don Bosco (CMB)
  • Contemplative Fraternity of Mary of Nazareth (FCMN)

Key Areas of Activity

1. Presence Among the Poor and Needy

The ARS Province operates in many of the poorest urban neighborhoods, where exclusion and poverty are widespread. The main beneficiaries are young people who have dropped out of formal education, come from dysfunctional or broken families, or struggle with substance addiction. These Salesian centers focus on academic support, vocational training, addiction recovery, and food assistance.

2. Social Services

More than 90% of the 63 Salesian houses in Southern Argentina provide some form of social support to address the unmet needs of many families and young people.

3. Missions Among Indigenous Communities

Remaining faithful to the Congregation’s origins and Don Bosco’s missionary dream, the ARS Province prioritizes work with indigenous populations, particularly the Mapuche and Ranquel communities in Patagonia and La Pampa.

4. Youth Ministry

The Salesian Youth Movement is present in every Salesian house, offering various groups and programs. There are also numerous formation and spirituality initiatives for youth leaders, as well as vocational pastoral programs.

5. Preserving Spiritual and Historical Heritage

ARS Province maintains several sanctuaries, museums, and archives that document the Salesian journey in the region. Key sites include:

  • Mater Misericordiae Church in Buenos Aires, where the first Salesian missionary expedition settled upon arrival
  • San Juan Evangelista House in Buenos Aires, the first Salesian parish in the world
  • Casa Bernal, the first Salesian formation house in the Americas

6. Shared Mission with the Laity

In line with Don Bosco’s vision and Vatican II’s ecclesiology, and in response to the decline in vocations, the province has chosen not to close its works but instead to entrust them to laypeople, ensuring the continuity of the Salesian mission. Salesian houses managed by laypeople remain an integral part of the provincial structure and fully preserve the Salesian charismatic identity.

A video showcasing the diverse Salesian reality in ARS is available on ANSChannel.

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/23722-rmg-sdb-provinces-the-blessed-zepherino-namuncura-province-of-southern-argentina-ars#sigProId72db53cfeb

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