(ANS – Quito) – The Salesian Center for Ongoing Formation in America (CSFPA) officially launched its 50th-anniversary celebrations with a program imbued with spirituality, gratitude, and hope for the future.

The day began in the Center’s chapel, where participants shared a profound moment of prayer reflecting on the meaning of Don Bosco’s heart. The prayer was accompanied by Salesian symbols that embody the spirit and identity of the CSFPA. This gesture served as a reminder that the Center’s entire history is deeply rooted in Salesian spirituality and God’s action within its educational and pastoral mission.

The celebrations continued with the inauguration of the Aula Magna, an iconic space that will now host significant educational and academic gatherings. The solemn ceremony was graced by the presence of the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr. Fabio Attard, who presided over the blessing. In his address, he invited all to reflect on the past with gratitude, embrace the present with passion, and look to the future with hope.

Fr. Manolo Pérez, Director of the CSFPA, extended a warm welcome, emphasizing the richness of this anniversary as a moment to honor the people, communities, and projects that have brought the Centre’s mission to life. Similarly, Fr. Marcelo Farfán, Provincial of the Salesians in Ecuador, highlighted the CSFPA as a genuine treasure of the Congregation in America—a space where integral formation has strengthened the charismatic identity of countless Salesians and lay collaborators over the years.

The commemoration also featured a screening of a commemorative video showcasing images, testimonies, and key milestones from the Center’s 50-year journey. This was followed by an open discussion, where attendees shared reflections, emotions, and aspirations for the future of the CSFPA—a beacon and reference point for Salesian formation.

With this solemn and fraternal beginning, the CSFPA inaugurated a jubilee year celebrating half a century of history, reaffirming its mission as a space for encounter, formation, and life for the entire Salesian Family across the continent.

As part of the day’s events, the results of a study on the impact of charismatic identity on the educational and pastoral practices of the CSFPA were presented. Conducted with the support of the Salesian Polytechnic University (UPS), the research highlighted the profound influence the Center has had on those trained there and its enduring inspiration for educational and pastoral initiatives throughout the region.