Bicycle caravan organized by Salesian parish of San Benito in Palermo, Guatemala

(MissionNewswire) The Santa Cecilia Institute’s oratory, located in Santa Tecla, El Salvador, celebrated the canonization of St. Artemide Zatti, a Salesian brother who was born in Italy and emigrated to Argentina as a young man. He became a pharmacist and was renowned for his care of the sick.

On Oct. 8, Pope Francis welcomed members of the Salesian religious family to the Vatican and canonized Zatti. The Pope highlighted Zatti’s care for the poor in a Vatican News article. He said, “Artemide dedicated his entire life to the sick, especially the poorest, the abandoned, and the discarded. He lived the total donation of himself to God and the consecration of all his strength to the good of his neighbor.”

The Santa Cecilia Institute’s event began with a celebration of the Eucharist, followed by a welcome to youth from the Don Bosco Oratory in Soyapango, who joined in the festivities. Youth organized soccer, volleyball and basketball games, birthday parties, and games for the younger children. There were also refreshments and a lunch provided. After 123 years in operation, the Santa Cecilia Institute changed the oratory’s name in honor of the new Salesian saint. The oratory is now the St. Artemide Zatti Salesian Oratory.

In addition, more than 100 people participated in a bicycle caravan in honor of St. Artemide Zatti. The bicycle caravan was organized by the Salesian parish of San Benito in Palermo, Guatemala. Participants rode through the main streets of the municipality, starting at the parish to the Candelaria neighborhood, where the Salesian medical clinic named after Zatti is located.

Mirian Dubón, who has been working at the medical dispensary since it was founded, said, “I have long dreamed of this day, when God grants us to have a new saint through Zatti, whom I admire so much and to whom we have dedicated our dispensary, where so many low-income people are treated. I thank God because Zatti is an example of care and mercy toward others for those like us who serve in the dispensary.”

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Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Guatemala – A bicycle caravan in honor of St. Artemide Zatti

ANS – El Salvador – St. Artemide Zatti new intercessor at the Salesian oratory in Santa Tecla

Salesian Missions – El Salvador

Vatican News – Pope: Blessed Artemide Zatti dedicated his whole life to the sick