Cardinal blesses showroom featuring Peruvian woodwork

Cardinal William H. Keeler, former archbishop of Baltimore, blessed a new showroom on South Charles Street featuring the Peruvian woodwork of the Artesanos Don Bosco June 3.

Italian Salesian priest Father Hugo de Censi opened a carpentry school in 1979 in Chacas, Peru, which provides free room and board to orphans and poor children in Peru. After a five-year training period, the craftsmen can join the Familia Artesanal Don Bosco, an association of artisans set up to make furniture, sacred art and other handicrafts that are sold both locally and worldwide.

The Peruvian woodwork is currently featured in the churches of St. Ignatius, Hickory; St. John, Westminster; and Our Lady of Pompei, Highlandtown.

The store is located at 828 S. Charles St. and benefits the Artesanos Don Bosco.

St. John Bosco is the founder of the Salesians.