Forty-one were the girls of San Salvatore who from 1876 became part of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians: many of them were missionaries in different countries of the world. In 1898, at the request of the Municipality, three nuns started the kindergarten and the workshop for the girls, then the San Giuseppe Institute was built and it was all a flourishing of activities in favor of children and youth, until recently, 2018: 120 years of service to the local Church, to the community, to the youth, years that will never be forgotten. In 1899, four other nuns were appointed to manage the Santa Croce Hospital, then a Rest Home in 1975, and in 1985 they retired, leaving a memory and a lot of gratitude to the entire population.
Over time, 15 young Sansalvatoresi also became Salesian priests and brothers: among these, among the first, we remember Fr Carlo Cavalli and Fr Martino Caroglio, missionaries in Argentina and Venezuela, and then Fr Giovanni Guarona.
At first an artisan pupil, feeling called to the priesthood, he attended the Salesian Seminary and was ordained a priest in 1913. His first Mass was attended by none other than Fr Filippo Rinaldi and Fr Pietro Ricaldone, future Successors of Don Bosco at the head of the Congregation.
He left to be a missionary in China and in 1920 Msgr. Versiglia, Apostolic Vicar of Shiu Chow, appointed him his Pro-Vicar. In 1930 Msgr. Versiglia and Fr Caravario were brutally murdered by bandits - the Church proclaimed them both saints in 2000. With an unlimited trust in Providence, Fr Guarona engaged in works that seemed reckless due to lack of means.
During four years of Communist occupation he gave evidence of prudence equal to his firmness: with heroic patience he upheld the rights of the Church and defended her freedom.
When he was forced to leave the Mission, for six years he directed the orphanage in Macao with over 600 orphans; then for ten years he was in charge of the “San Luigi” School in Hong Kong with a printing press and elementary school for very poor pupils. In 1952 for serious health reasons he returned to Italy where, in Piossasco (TO), he died in 1961 after much suffering.
He worked for over 40 years in China in the most terrible years of its millennial history, he was a true son of Don Bosco and one of the great missionaries in China. Today his birthplace, San Salvatore, also remembers him with an important street in the city dedicated to him; and a significant exhibition set up in the village presents his missionary work - of him, and of the other Sons of Don Bosco from San Salvatore.
