Since 1958, following its transfer to Rome, the ICA has carried out multiple cultural activities in the service of the Church and the Salesian Congregation, edited valuable publications and field research, under the direction and animation of professors such as Emilio Alberich, Cesare Bissoli, Joseph Gevaert, Ubaldo Gianetto, Roberto Giannatelli, Giuseppe Groppo, Zelindo Trenti and many others.
The Institute has expressed its potential and resources to the fullest in tune with the universal Church, has cared for collaboration with the Italian Bishops' Conference (CEI) and the dioceses of Italy, but also has come into contact with various geographical contexts, from Europe to Latin America, from Asia to Africa.
ICA alumni are scattered at all cardinal points, performing multiple institutional services in the service of evangelization and catechesis or working in the many ecclesial peripheries and frontiers. In this Academic Year, alumni who are attending the catechetics curriculum come from Argentina, Brazil, China, Korea, Croatia, India, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria, Paraguay, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Thailand, and the UK.
On Friday, May 19, 2023, at 3:30 p.m. (UTC+2), the 70th anniversary of the institution will be launched at the Hall of the Faculty of Social Communication Sciences (UPS, Rome) with the presentation of the collected volume Fare catechesi oggi in Italia (Edizioni San Paolo, 2023), the result of the collaboration of 30 experts in catechetics, theology, education, and communication sciences.
The celebratory moment can also be followed remotely by connecting to the Pontifical Salesian University's streaming platform: www.unisal.it
Among the celebratory initiatives in the pipeline are plans to organize an international symposium on catechetical studies during the 2023/2024 academic year. Also, in the three issues of the current year, «Catechetica ed Educazione», the Institute's online magazine, will present, from time to time, some aspects that have characterized this center of cultural animation, in its daily service to the Church, the Congregation and the Salesian Family.
This year's first issue will be launched online just May 19 and will be available on the ICA website www.rivistadipedagogiareligiosa.it, where the most important initiatives and activities are presented.
Already the first gratulatory messages have been received from the Rector Major of the Salesians and Grand Chancellor of UPS, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, and the Rector Magnificent of UPS, Fr. Andrea Bozzolo, as well as from affectionate alumni and friends of the Institute.
