(ANS – Quito) – The Extraordinary Visitation by Fr. Hugo Orozco, Regional Councillor for Interamerica, to the Salesian Province of Ecuador officially began on Monday, August 31, 2026. The program began with a meeting with Fr. Marcelo Farfán, Provincial of Ecuador, and the members of the Provincial Council.

The initial meeting was attended by Fr. Juan Flores, Vice Provincial and Provincial Secretary; Fr. Luis Mosquera, Provincial Economer; and councilors Fr. Ángel Lazo, Fr. Mauricio Leime, Fr. Juan Cárdenasy Fr. Mario Ramos. During the meeting, Fr. Hugo Orozco spoke with the members of the Provincial Council and outlined various aspects of the visitation to the communities and works of the province.

Following this meeting, Fr. Orozco met with the Provincial Formation Commission (PFC) and subsequently with Fr. Juan Flores y Angélica Almeida. They discussed matters related to the Provincial Secretariat and the Historical Archive, as well as the recent establishment of the Ecuador branch of the Association of Salesian History Enthusiasts (ACSSA).

Through Wednesday, September 2, his program included meetings with the delegates and teams responsible for the various sectors and areas operating from the Provincial House. These meetings provided an opportunity to gain an understanding of the situation in each sector and area and to identify the challenges that are part of the Salesian mission in Ecuador.

Beginning Thursday, September 3, Fr. Hugo Orozco will visit the Salesian communities and works. His first visits will be to the Don Bosco House in Guayaquil, as well as communities in Machala and Zaruma, and the San Juan Bosco House y San Felipe Neri House in Esmeraldas.

The Extraordinary Visitation will take place in two phases. The first phase runs from August 30 to October 10, 2026, while the second is scheduled for December 2, 2026, to February 9, 2027.

This process forms part of the support that the Interamerica Region offers to the provinces. It involves meetings with Salesians, animation groups, communities, and works to gain an understanding of the development of the mission and the processes underway in each location.