Don Bosco Procession

Don Bosco Procession
photos by José F. Ponce

Panama is a more than 80 percent Catholic country, and one of its favorite saints is the late Giovanni Bosco. Better known as Don Bosco, the 19th century Italian priest founded the Salesian Society, a Catholic organization that included both clerics and lay people and was originally dedicated to the education of kids from disadvantaged families.

Panama's best known vocational high school, Artes y Oficios, is now a public school but was originally a Salesian project. Don Bosco, whose ministry included entertaining people with magic tricks, juggling and music, is the patron saint of schoolchildren, apprentices, street and stage performers and newspaper editors and publishers.

January 31 is Don Bosco Day and Panama City always marks the event with what is usually its biggest religious event of the year, the Don Bosco Procession.

Also in this section:
Major League assistance for Panama's Little Leaguers
Citrus season
Panama's national Girl Scout camp
Theatre Guild general assembly
Replica of Columbus ship to call at Amador
American Embassy people pitch in for Habitat for Humanity
Sebastian Lord, retired firefighter and community leader
Don Bosco Procession
Be Prepared --- to prevent AIDS
Court rejects challenge, Carnival will be on the Transistmica
Burning season
Panamanian university students learn English in Vermont
Diablos and Congos Festival coming to Portobelo
Traffic nightmares
Veracruz cayuco race results
National junior baseball tournament

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