El Salvador – 1950 – The history of the Mary Help of Christians – Don Rua Parish began with the dream of Fr José Miguel Funes, who wanted to build a chapel in honour of St Michael the Archangel. After his death the project passed from hand to hand until the Dominicans took responsibility for carrying it forward. When they learned that the Salesians were looking for a place to establish their seminary, they offered them this legacy on condition that they build the chapel he had dreamed of. Thusthe Don Rua International Institute was opened in 1947. In 1950, Fr Ambrosio Rossi laid the foundation stone of what would become a magnificent church. The church was opened two years later, Three years later, in 1953, the parish was officially established under the patronage of Mary Help of Christians, establishing itself as a reference point for veneration of Our Lady in San Salvador.
