(ANS – Montevideo – October 12, 2026) – On Thursday, October 8, 2026, the Uruguayan Parliament paid tribute to the Salesian Family, which has been present in the country for 150 years, as part of the “Contemporary Heroes of the Bicentenary” program.

The event was attended by national government officials, legislators, Church representatives, members of the Salesian Family, and civil society organizations.

This recognition also marked the beginning of two years of celebrations commemorating the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Don Bosco’s charism in Uruguay. The main events will take place between the end of 2026 and mid-2027, including a special visit by the congregation’s international leadership.

The event highlighted the unity among the various groups of the Salesian Family in Uruguay, particularly the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, who jointly received this recognition.

During the ceremony, the Provincial of the Salesians in Uruguay, Fr. Francisco Lezama, highlighted the bond forged with Uruguayan society over the past 150 years.

“If the country is 200 years old, this represents three-quarters of its history. For three-quarters of this country’s existence, we Salesians and Salesian Sisters have shared in the challenge and privilege of working to educate its young people,” he emphasized.

Fr. Lezama stressed that the parliamentary recognition was dedicated in particular to younger generations.

“It is they, as Don Bosco used to say, who have stolen our hearts, who give meaning to our lives and who continue to guide us toward the future,” Fr. Lezama said during his address. He added that the speech had been prepared in collaboration with Sister Ángeles Grassi, Provincial Superior of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.

Fr. Lezama’s remarks were met with applause from an audience of more than 300 people, while an equal number followed the event through social media broadcasts.

Among those present were Rodrigo Goñi, president of the Chamber of Representatives; Gonzalo Civila, minister of social development; Senators Pedro Bordaberry and Javier García; and Pablo Mieres, leader of the Independent Party. Representatives of several political parties also attended, some of whom spoke as former students, sharing brief testimonies about their experiences in Salesian communities throughout Uruguay.

The Salesians of Don Bosco arrived in Uruguay in 1876 as part of the second missionary expedition, while the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians arrived the following year, in 1877. Uruguay was the first country in South America to which the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians traveled beyond the borders of Mornese.