Salesian Rector-Major visits Gozo

On December 9, Fr Pascual Chavez Villanueva, Rector-Major of the Salesian Order, paid a half-day visit to Gozo on the occasion of the Maltese Salesians' centenary celebrations.

He called on the Salesian Sisters and also visited the Cathedral, St George's Basilica and Ta' Pinu Sanctuary.

The climax of Fr Chavez Villanueva's visit was when he called at the Don Bosco Oratory of Rabat. He was welcomed by La Stella Band near the primary school in Vajringa Street from where he was symbolically pulled aboard a Jeep by a number of children of Laura Vicuna School and the football nursery of the Oratory.

On St Augustine Square, he was welcomed by the Leone Band and numerous children, parents, past pupils and friends of the Salesians in Gozo.

Fr Louis Bezzina, director of the Oratory, delivered a welcome speech after which the Rector-Major unveiled and blessed a commemorative plaque.

He then led a concelebrated Mass animated by a number of youths with the participation of the Gozo Youth Orchestra under Mro Joseph Grech and a choir of children and youths.

Several superiors of the Salesian congregation were present for this occasion together with a good number of priests with connections with the Oratory.

During the homily on the Immaculate Conception of Mary and the foundation of the first oratory on this special day, the Rector-Major insisted on the need to have the Salesians back in Gozo and on the need of prayers for more vocations.

At the end of the Mass, Fr Chavez was presented with a painting of Our Lady of Ta' Pinu painted by Paul Camilleri Cauchi.

Lunch followed at Calypso Hotel.