THE SALESIAN IN BOLOGNA
On January 1, 1896, the Promoting Committee for the founding of the Salesian Institute in Bologna was formed.
On October 17, 1896 (Saturday) Salesian Don Carlo Maria Viglietti, who was Don Bosco's secretary from 1883 to 1888, arrived in Bologna with a confrere. Don Rua had him dressed again, gave him 100 liras and his blessing. Holy Providence would provide the rest.
Fr. Viglietti immediately went to Card.Svampa, who, after a brief talk, blessed him and invited him to go to Our Lady of St. Luke and place the incipient Salesian Work under His protection.
The next day, Sunday, Fr. Viglietti took himself to the Shrine of St. Luke, putting “”...our fate in Our Lady's hands, vowed offering of Lire 5 to St. Anthony's bread if the premises can be found “”
In fact, after not a few difficulties, three rooms, a sitting room and kitchen were found at the Church of St. Charles, which Marchesa Zambeccari proposed to furnish to provide everything necessary and to pay the rent.
From January to October, 17,717 sq. m. of land outside Porta Galliera was purchased by the Committee, and G.B. Acquaderni had purchased another 2,000 sq. m. adjacent to it. Card.Svampa writing to his brother on Nov. 15, 1896 said, “Tomorrow I will have a large meeting for the establishment of the Salesians in Bologna. The area is already purchased, but everything else is needed.”
Meanwhile, Don Viglietti started the Festive Oratory in St. Carlino Church , which officially opened on December 8, 1896 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception - attended by 300 boys.
With the help of seminarians and university students, the gymnasium, little theater, singing school, Latin school for poor youth and other initiatives were set up. This courageous social action allowed an attendance at “St. Carlino's” of many young people who in a short time (2/3 months) reached the number of more than 600 young people. The placid meadows “Garagnani” did not have such a quiver of life and never heard more joyful voices of healthy cheerfulness !
On December 20, 1896 in S.Domenico , filled with a crowd, Fr. Viglietti explained to the people of Bologna, “....what the Salesians intend to do in Bologna.”
Later that year, in a vigorous speech, Card.Svampa emphasized the aims of the work. We quote an excerpt from it for brevity:
“...the edifice that we want built here is a symbol of moral restoration of society, which must be remade from its foundations, that is, in the age of youth, and must become honest and virtuous again by basing itself on the fundamental stone of all morality and justice, which is Jesus Christ: until Christ re-enters the workshops, schools, institutions, customs, souls, in short, all social fibers, it is folly to hope for honesty in life, firmness of character, self-denial, charity, heroism, observance of religious, domestic, and social duties. Don Bosco well understood these truths and without pomp of abstract theories, moved only by charity and the spirit of Jesus Christ, in this charity and this spirit he found the secret of forming young people to virtue and was the first educator not only of Italy but of the whole civilized world. And the children of Him, who gathered the precious inheritance of His times, of the true educational method and doctrines, in the erecting Bolognese Institute will zealously and lovingly care for the wise education of the children of our people and prepare in Bologna a better generation.”
Special gratitude to the great benefactor of the Salesian Work in Bologna, Monsignor Giacomo Carpanelli (Parish priest at SS.Trinità from 1880 to 1912) , the soul of the 1st International Congress of Salesian Cooperators in 1895, who introduced Don Viglietti to some noble Bolognese families : Zambeccari, Bevilacqua, Acquaderni, Sassoli, Ranuzzi , etc.
Together they visited the land outside Porta Galliera, where the College would be built, etc.
Archbishop Carpanelli was always at the side of the Salesians as a sincere friend, faithful counselor, inveterate supporter. Such distinguished merits procured for him the perennial gratitude of the Sons of Don Bosco and a commendation from the Supreme Pontiff himself.
February 22, 1897 , laying of the First Stone : present were Card. Svampa and Don Rua.
Here is how Card. Svampa announces the event to his brother on February 21 :
“"Yesterday Don Rua who is my guest came from Turin. Today he will give a lecture to the Salesian Cooperators and tomorrow he will place the foundation stone of the erecting Institute.
It will be a solemn function. I will pontifically lay the foundation stone, the Attorney General, the President of the Court, the Mayor, the Prefect, the Army General and other generals will attend or be represented. They have accepted the invitation and I hope they will not miss it. The venue has already been prepared very conveniently. Everything suggests that it will succeed well.
I will say a few words about it. Tomorrow afternoon Don Rua will gather the Ladies, to constitute the Women's Committee in favor of the erecting Institute.”
(NOTE : The Committee was chaired by Marchioness Zambeccari) “For Carnival here, plays are being performed in many pious institutes. Tonight I am going to hear the youngsters of the Salesian Oratory.”
And here is how the event was announced in the press : from the socialist newspaper “Il Pubblico” of 7/2/1897:
“” The Salesian Work in Bologna represents above all a vitality, a strength of purpose, a sagacity in the clerical party that other parties do not have."”
from “Il Resto del Carlino” of 19/2/1897 :
““...The Salesians, after the International Congress of Cooperators, held two years ago in the Church of the Saint, did not remain with their hands at their belts, as the liberal parties too often and too long do.””
from “L'Avvenire d'Italia ” of 18/2/1897:
““it is to be found (comment following pro-erigendo College offerings ed.) in this that those who did not yet know of the coming of the Salesians among us, have learned of it with lively joy; and that all, it may be said, have given something, declaring moreover very many the sorrow they feel at not being able to second with their hands the breadth they felt in their hearts toward the Salesian Work which is recognized as so opportune and useful.””
And while the excavations, the meetings of the various committees and the collections continued apace, 600 young people from the San Carlino Oratory, crossed the city on twenty tramway carriages, freely granted by the Director Mr. Dupiery, went to San Luca to implore Our Lady's blessing on the rising factory, on their families and on themselves.
On May 30, 1899, the PROVIDENCE, confirming Don Rua's full confidence, caused the Salesian Institute in Bologna to be inaugurated.
Prof. Collamarini's grandiose Work was completed.
The 87 m. long, 15 m. wide and 22 m. high wing of the Institute was at the roof! This Institute, with the blessings and benevolence of Our Lady and the generosity of the people of Bologna, arose as if by magic in eight months , so it was called by all : “ The House of the Miracle ! ”
Don Rua himself had this to say : “” I have in fact the pleasure of assuring you that among so many institutes that I saw come into being in different parts of the world, I know of no example to be equaled by that given in Bologna."”
Even the workers of Impresa Stanzani themselves, who in a number of 180 and under the direction of Eng. Reggiani, foremen Bastia and Franzoni, had worked industriously, were amazed and moved because no misfortune, however slight, had marred their work.
In a single year (1897) as many as 217 young people were placed with good masters and another 120 needy ones received cash relief.
On June 3, 1899, Card.Svampa wrote : “” On Wednesday I spent the day in the Salesian College, with the excellent Don Rua: I was delighted at the magnificent achievement that the sons of Don Bosco are making in the city of Bologna."” In October 1899 more Salesians arrived from Turin to help Don Viglietti, and the Institute, with schools and trades overflowing with boys, functioned regularly.
THE FIRST MIRACLE OF BOLOGNESE CHARITY FOR THE WORK OF DON BOSCO'S SONS WAS ACCOMPLISHED !
Meanwhile, debts had increased. Don Viglietti in order to satisfy the creditors who continually assailed him, sold to Marquis Paolo Cattani his own collection of stamps “ the fruit of long and patient work ” for the sum of Lire 2,000.=
In a circular letter dated December 20, 1900, Don Viglietti was finally able to say, “”In 1899 your charity toward our works was abundant and the debt that at the beginning of the year amounted to 140,000.= Lire was reduced to only 37,000.= Lire in the month of December. And today we have the consolation of telling you that you have also paid off this debt during this holy year 1900."”
THE EVICTION FROM SAN CARLINO
At the end of 1901 the Administration of St. Carlino's intimated to the Salesians the eviction of the premises they occupied. Eviction delayed to April 6, 1902, and on Sunday, April 13, that Salesian phalanx of more than 700 good and affectionate young people, after 5 years of bright and intense life at St. Carlino's transplanted itself outside Porta Galliera, in the main Institute.
The pain that such a move brought to the hearts of the Salesians could be deduced from a sentence of Fr. Viglietti : “” We would suffer less bitterly the decay of the Institute , than that of St. Carlino's."”
But God to His elect sends proofs without retracting His arm. The Festive Oratory of Galliera soon and no less effectively set out its work for the good of the youth of the “Bolognina” and the only pleading plea of the various Directors who succeeded it from that day was always this : “enlarge our premises....we are not all in! ”
May 14, 1901 :laying of the foundation stone for the construction of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. On that occasion Card. Svampa stated : “The Salesian Institute and the Temple of the Sacred Heart realize in my thought a step forward in the progress of good : they are almost a sign of a new alliance between heaven and earth in the Diocese of Bologna.”
The coming and flourishing of the Salesian Work in Bologna should be given above all to the imperishable memory of Card. Domenico Svampa. He was the mind that inspired, the will that moved and directed everything.
Why “Salesian Institute of the B.V. of St. Luke ?”
We should deduce it from a sentence exclaimed one day by Card. Svampa : “ Love to Our Lady of St. Luke is confused with love to the Salesian Institute : whoever loves that one cannot but love this one !”
Now, that great Cardinal who knew Don Bosco as a child and was blessed by him and was immutably enthusiastic about him, rests in the crypt of the Sacred Heart under the benevolent and grateful gaze of Don Bosco's children !
Early Institute Directors and vocational schools.
Don Carlo Maria Viglietti was born in Susa in 1864, Don Bosco's secretary from 1883 to 1888, in Bologna on October 17, 1896 where he opened the Festive Oratory at San Carlino. He began and followed the work of the building of the Salesian Institute. He initiated this Institute with faith and ardor of charity that appeared prodigious. In October 1898, in addition to the elementary and gymnasium schools for students, the Arts and Trades Schools for young artisans began in the Institute.
From the first year there were about 80 students who were carpenters, bookbinders, tailors and shoemakers. Over time they were added : the Printing School and the School of Blacksmiths and Mechanics.
“"The indelible gratitude of the Former Students of Bologna has eternalized on bronze the suave likeness of Fr. Viglietti as a testimony to his fruitful apostolate among us. “”
He left Bologna bound for Lanzo Torinese, where he gave to the presses two jewels of books : “Vocazione tradita” and “ Vita di Collegio,” died in Turin in 1915 amid unanimous mourning.
He was succeeded by Don Alessandro Veneroni, who is credited with having opened the Typographic School.
After his fruitful six-year term the Director, will remain in Bologna as “Bursar.” Some Directors at different times: Don Alessandro Veneroni , Don Giuseppe Divina, Don Giacomo Balestra (successor of Don Divina), Don Eugenio Bigano ( Director of the Oratory).
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BAND AND PHILODRAMA
A number of young people from the Institute and Oratory brought their joyful notes, smiles and comfort to hospitals and charity festivals (the 1915/1918 war had just ended and Italy was in tatters).
In addition, Fr. Divina encouraged the dissemination of the Good Press; in fact, in April 1920, 12,000 small volumes of Catholic Readings were distributed and he established a Women's Committee of “Salesian Action” so that, as in Fr. Viglietti's time, the serious needs of the work would be met.
In due gratitude some names of these great benefactors were recalled : Zambeccari, Spada, Zavagli, Barrilis, Zucchini-Solimei, Rusconi, Ricci-Curbastro, Hercolani , Cays , Durazzo, Malvezzi, De Bianchi, Sassoli, Marsigli.
One anonymous offered “to warm the poor orphans” 130 quintals of wood, another 40 meters of bandsaw and a dozen files for the cabinet-making school, yet another 58 meters of cloth and several dozen collars, etc.
On April 29, 1923 , Card. Nasali Rocca and Rector Major of the Salesians Don Filippo Rinaldi, the celebrations of the 25th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Institute in Bologna opened.
In the statistical report it is written : 2,035 orphans admitted, coming from the city of Bologna and province, a few from elsewhere, 175 children of Fallen in War, 916 came free of charge, an average of 36-37 each year, 4,831 total number of children guests of the Institute.
With a grand charity fishing held at the Palazzo di Re Enzo (Jan. 1-7, 1924) ended the dynamic six-year term of Don Divina. He was succeeded by Don Giacomo Balestra ( 1925-1931).
Don Balestra is succeeded by Don Oreto Alessandra - triennium 1931-1934. Under him a fact worthy of mention : it is that of the recognition by the State, of the Salesian Vocational Schools (June 5, 1934).
As the demands of young people continued to increase from year to year, the need was felt to build the other part of the Institute.
In fact, on June 17, 1926 in the presence of His Highness Prince Umberto of Savoy, Card. Nasali Rocca, Rector Major Don Rinaldi and representatives of the government and the Senate the foundation stone was laid.
Two years later, September 1928, everything was finished and the Institute stood in its marvelous grandeur.
Comm.Prof.Arch. Edoardo Collamarini himself, who died on September 25, a few days before the inauguration, observing it from afar exclaimed, “”Now I can die happy, my project has finally been realized."”
In April 1929, Card. Nasali Rocca entrusted the Parish of the Sacred Heart to the Salesians.
From May 26 to June 2, 1929 with an unprecedented participation of the people, celebrations were held for DON BOSCO as the new Blessed.
November 21, 1929 - 3 p.m. - the beautiful dome of the Temple of the Sacred Heart collapsed.
May 10, 1930 Salesian Fr Antonio Gavinelli was elected Parish Priest of the Temple of the Sacred Heart, then the “”reconstruction“” of the Church was begun. Other Directors succeeded over time : Fr Torretti, who had as help the unforgettable Fr Bandiera , Fr Brambilla, Fr Mariani, Fr Alberti, Fr Balducci, Fr Gatti , Fr Consolini.