Turin's Crocetta Studentate Celebrates 100 Years Full of Life

Turin's Crocetta Theologate Celebrates 100 Years Full of Life

(ANS – Turin – January 19, 2023) – A century ago the Salesians founded a theological studentate and youth center in Turin’s Crocetta neighborhood. Its 100 years of history have been rich in events and people, in which God has truly worked for the good of the people who have come to this house and the good of the Congregation all over the world.

In this Salesian house, many of Don Bosco’s sons prepared for the priesthood and then went on to hold important positions for the Congregation and the Church. Among them were a Rector Major, Fr. Juan Edmundo Vecchi; cardinals and bishops, such as Cardinal Joseph Zen, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, and others; rectors of universities, superiors of Salesian provinces, missionaries; but also and above all many Salesians serving young people in 135 countries around the world. Dozens of them labored in the province of St. Philip the Apostle, the Eastern U.S. and Canada.

“The Jubilee is also an occasion to praise God for the passionate work of theological research of so many teachers of different nationalities who have taught here, from the lectures they have given to the publications they have presented, but above all, in the witness of their lives. We remember with special affection the Venerable Fr. Giuseppe Quadrio, who lived his mission in this house and left an indelible mark in his witness,” wrote Fr. Marek Chrzan, current director of the Don Bosco International Institute, in a letter sent for the occasion.

But there is more than just the theologate: the courtyard of this house could tell of the thousands of people who have grown up there, thanks to Scout groups, basketball associations, youth center groups, and other activities supporting needy children and youths.

The house, in its history, has hosted university students from the Polytechnic and other universities in Turin. So many, in addition to studying, have learned to live in a community of young people, sharing life and growing in relationships. So many of them now hold positions of responsibility, strengthened by this experience as well.

“La Crocetta” is, finally, a prayer space not only in the Salesian community, but also in the church of the Mary Help of Christians youth center, which was born together with the house. Over the years it has changed its architectural facade, but it has always been animated by a large group of faithful, from the neighborhood and beyond.

The celebrations for the centennial of the work will unfold throughout 2023, and will start in a few days, on January 29 with a morning of celebration. The day will open with a moment of play for the youngest, in perfect oratorian style, which will be followed at 11 a.m. by Mass, presided over by Fr. Stefano Martoglio, vicar of the Rector Major, and animated by the youngsters of the youth center. The event will end with a festive moment in the courtyard to launch the centennial officially and take a “plunge” into the past to commemorate the history of the work.

Other important moments will then be:

- Tuesday, January 31, the feast of Don Bosco, with the entire educational community at the basilica of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco;

- On April 25, the meeting of all the Salesians of the Piedmont-Aosta Province at the Crocetta for the provincial feast (“province day”);

- On May 6-7, a “24 hours of sports,” with a visit from the Archbishop Roberto Repole of Turin;

- May 24, the feast of Mary Help of Christians, will see a pilgrimage and participation in the procession to Valdocco;

- Sept. 8, the official founding date, the concluding day of the youth summer camp;

- On Oct. 28, a day of study proposed by the Crocetta Theological Faculty on the theme “'Together': for a missionary proclamation.”

- And on Dec. 8, feast of the Immaculate Conception and date of the birth of the Salesian work in 1841, on which centennial observance will conclude, with the Rector Major leading the festivities.

“A century of life might make one think that we have now reached old age. But the house of the Crocetta is always young, because today it still prepares for the priesthood 43 young Salesian confreres of 19 different nationalities,” concluded Fr. Chrzan. “It gives hospitality space to 100 young university students from all over Italy and abroad. It makes children and young people taste the joy in the youth center, thanks to the formation groups, Scout activities, and the basketball association. Together they reach almost 800 members, not counting family and friends.”