Salesian Historical Institute Holds 3 Meetings

Salesian Historical Institute Holds 3 Important Meetings

(ANS – Rome – March 2, 2026) – Over the weekend of February 27–28, three significant meetings of the Salesian Historical Institute (ISS) took place at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome: the executive council, the Editorial Board of Ricerche Storiche Salesiane (RSS-“Salesian Historical Research”), and the ISS Assembly.

The meetings opened with a moment of prayer and the approval of the minutes from the previous sessions (November 14–15, 2025). Among the 1st items addressed was the update of the institutional website, iss-acssa.org, with particular reference to the publication of the 10th volume of the Epistolario of St. John Bosco. A review was then proposed of the events organized by the ISS in recent months, with special attention to the recent publication of Paolo Pieraccini’s volume Salesians in the Holy Land: from the “Opera Don Belloni” to the British Mandate (1863–1920) (= ISS – Studies, 35), published by LAS in 2025. Dedicated to institutional and political-diplomatic issues, educational and pastoral activity, and questions of national identity within the context of the Salesian presence in the Holy Land, the work represents a significant contribution to contemporary Salesian historiography.

Editorial Planning and Future Publications
Considerable space was devoted to editorial planning. Among the publications currently in preparation are: the volume edited by Francesco Motto, Presentation of the Ten Volumes of the Epistolario of Giovanni Bosco (= ISS – Studies, 38), which gathers the proceedings of the 2 study days held in Rome (January 28, 2025) and Turin (April 2, 2025); the volume edited by Hendry Dominic and Francesco Motto, Salesian Missions: From the Apostolic Letter Maximum Illud (1919) to the Conciliar Decree Ad Gentes (1965) (= ISS – Studies, 39), containing the proceedings of the international conference held in May 2025; and the work edited by Stanisław Zimniak, Salesian Missions in the World: Proceedings of the Five Continental Seminars (= ACSSA – Studies, 12), scheduled for publication in 2026/2027.

Research Proposals and Institutional Developments
The council also examined several research proposals from external scholars: Prof. Angelo Dibisceglia’s project on the history of the Salesian Cooperators (1876–2000); Ms. Maria Nicoletti’s proposal for a critical edition of the correspondence of vicar apostolic Bp. John Cagliero (1884–1904); the biographical profile of the missionary in India José Luis Carreño Etxeandia, presented by Fr. Ivo Coelho; and the proposal for a study evening, to be scheduled between November and December 2026, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Pious Union of Salesian Cooperators.

In preparation for 2027, reflection began on what the ISS might offer for the 150th anniversary of the publication of Don Bosco’s work on the Preventive System. Discussions also covered the editorial plan for the period 2026–2029, the revision of the ISS Statute and Regulations, and the establishment of a commission tasked with reviewing the Institute’s scientific project. Other topics included the definition of editorial norms for the critical edition of Salesian sources; the situation of the ISS–Don Bosco Library; the inventory of the ISS and ACSSA archives; and updates on ACSSA’s activities. The next meetings were scheduled for May 22–23, 2026.

Editorial Board of Ricerche Storiche Salesiane
Following this, the editorial board of RSS met. Materials for the 2026 issues were presented (which will give space to research on the Salesian Cooperators), as well as for the 2027 issues (focused on the Preventive System and the missions of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians), and planning for 2028 was initiated. The participants also discussed the volumes to be reviewed and the updating of the bibliographical repertory, inviting members to inform the editor-in-chief promptly about new publications to be included.

Commitment to Continuity in Historical Research
The meetings confirmed that, despite serious challenges related to the current staffing situation, the ISS is firmly determined to carry forward its planned work and to ensure continuity in Salesian historical research and in the critical promotion of sources, within an increasingly international and interdisciplinary perspective.

Fr. Stanisław Zimniak
ISS Coordinating Secretary