25.02.2020
GC28 GOOD NIGHT
PRESENTATION OF THE BOLIVIAN
“OUR LADY OF COPACABANA” PROVINCE
The Bolivian Province was founded in 1963 when it was separated from the Peruvian Province. Now we have 105 Salesians of whom 25 are over 80 years of age and the others are below 55. There are 94 Priests and 11 Brothers. We have 16 communities and they all have various works or activities.
The Bolivian Province has four significant works.
1. The “DON BOSCO PROJECT”
First of all what is called the “Don Bosco Project” a work on behalf of young people at risk. We provide accommodation for about 500 poor, marginalised or orphaned youngsters…in six houses or stages: “Don Bosco Home” for the more settled and permanent youngsters who go to school and are aged between 6 and 15; “Helping Hand” for boys and girls that Local Authorities send to us because their families are not in a position to keep them at home. “Pinardi Shelter” for street children between 14 and 17 where they can stay the night, have something to eat, get clean clothes and a friendly word. Then they return to the streets until they are ready and willing to start a recovery programme. “Don Bosco Playground” for underage children who on account of their circumstances are on the streets and at risk of getting into bad habits. “Youth Centre” for the youngsters who have finished the Home stage aged between 16 and 18 and who want to learn a trade, continue their secondary or university studies before leaving the Project and starting their life in society. This is the work closest to our hearts as Salesians and which brings us the greatest satisfaction even though it is the most difficult to manage and to keep going financially.
2. The “DON BOSCO PEOPLES’ SCHOOLS” (EPDB)
Secondly: the school network entitled Don Bosco Peoples Schools. There are 180 schools throughout Bolivia under the direction of a national team and four regional teams. They are schools that have an agreement with the National Government which pays the teaching and the administrative staff while we the Salesians run the schools according to Don Bosco’s charism. There are training courses for the Heads, the teaching and care staff, and for parents, and also leadership courses for the students. We make a great impact on society and Don Bosco’s presence is very strong among the poorest people in Bolivia. There are 130,000 students, 4,500 teachers and 20.000 families In this network of the 180 schools for which we as the Salesian Family and some other Religious Congregations are responsible.
3. The SALESIAN FAMILY
In the third place ours is a Province that has 11 groups belonging to the Salesian Family (SDB, FMA, HH.SS.CC, SO, HCJ, HDS, VDB, ADS, SS.CC, FMA Past Pupils).
Twice a year (on the first Saturday of February and on the second of November) we hold the Consultative Assembly of the Salesian Family at which all those with the primary responsibility for the animation of each group carry out the planning process for all the activities that are to take place during the academic year. The second meeting is to carry out an assessment of these.
Four times a year we have a quarterly day of recollection for the Salesian Family in each region of the country for which each group takes its turn to be responsible. In addition we have a retreat specifically for the leaders of the religious groups of the Salesian Family together, and every three years we have had one for all the male and female religious of the Salesian Family together. As well as this, any important event organised for any group is attended by all the others. I can honestly say that in Bolivia at the spiritual and the sharing level –as well as in the mission - we have a real experience of the Salesian Family because all the schools of all the groups belong to the same network of schools in Bolivia called the Don Bosco Peoples Schools.
4. The “SALESIAN EDUCTIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RADIO AND TELEVISION IN BOLIVIA” (ARTESBOL).
In fourth place: the network of Salesian Radios called ARTESBOL (Salesian Educational Association of Radios and Television in Bolivia) There are 7 radio stations and 5 TV Channels located especially in rural areas and they assist the missionary centres in spreading the gospel and in the education and social development of the people. None of them are financially self-sufficient but they are sustained by the support of the Province and the goodwill of benefactors.
I ask you to pray for the Salesians, for the Salesian Family and for those to whom the Salesian mission in Bolivia is directed. We need your prayers so that the Salesian mission in Bolivia may continue with new vocations. But we also need the support of any Salesian who may wish to become a missionary among us. He will always be welcome. Thank you and Good Night.
Fr Javier Ortiz Rodriguez SDB
Provincial - BOL
Translation: Fr Bernard GROGAN