Brazil – Solar energy bolsters the Salesian mission in the Amazon and strengthens the commitment to our Common Home 

(ANS – Manaus) – The Salesian St Dominic Savio Province of Manaus, Brazil (BMA) has taken another concrete step towards sustainability and the evangelising mission in the Amazon: with the support of benefactors from the Salesian Mission Office in New Rochelle (Salesian Missions), solar panels have been installed at the Provincial House in Manaus, in the state of Amazonas, and at the Salesian Community in Maturacá, located in the Upper Rio Negro region.

 The initiative represents much more than mere financial savings. The project promotes the use of clean, renewable energy, reduces environmental impact and ensures better conditions for the Salesians to carry out their educational, pastoral and social activities, reaffirming the BMA province’s commitment to integral ecology and care for our Common Home.

 Clean energy for the mission amongst the Yanomami people

 For over 60 years the Salesians have been present in Maturacá, where they share daily life with the indigenous Yanomami people. The mission carries out ongoing work in education, evangelisation and pastoral care, offering continuous support to families and promoting human dignity; over time, it has become a key reference point for the missionary presence in the region.

 With the installation of 26 solar panels, the community now has a system capable of fully meeting the energy needs of the religious house and part of the school and parish. The result is significant: the use of the diesel-powered generator has been reduced by around 90%, lowering operating costs and reducing the environmental impact. Furthermore, the system is modular and can be further expanded in the future, enabling it to supply power to other areas of the mission through the installation of new panels and batteries.

 The Provincial House improves its energy efficiency

 In Manaus, the Provincial House — responsible for coordinating the religious communities, schools, social works, youth centres and indigenous missions of the BMA province — has also begun operating on solar power.

 102 photovoltaic panels have been installed and integrated into the electricity grid, ensuring a reduction of around 50 per cent in energy consumption. In addition to the savings, the system provides greater stability for essential services such as lighting, internet, communications, air conditioning, formation courses, meetings and events, contributing to a more efficient management of the resources allocated to the Salesian mission.

 Sustainability that strengthens evangelisation

 The installation of the solar systems demonstrates that innovation, environmental responsibility and missionary work can go hand in hand. By investing in renewable energy sources, the Manaus Province is strengthening its capacity to serve Amazonian communities, ensuring greater resources for its educational, pastoral and social activities.

 More than just a technological solution, the project represents a concrete commitment to the Salesian mission and the future of the Amazon. In keeping with the Church’s call to care for Creation, the initiative demonstrates that it is possible to promote sustainable development, reduce environmental impact and expand the evangelising presence where it is most needed.

 “The realisation of the project,” they note from Manaus, “was made possible thanks to the generosity of the benefactors of ‘Salesian Missions’, whose collaboration continues to transform lives and strengthen the Salesian mission in the most challenging parts of the Amazon.”