Fr Carlos, on his return from Italy where he had studied theology in preparation for the priesthood, brought the express request (and he repeated it continuously) from Fr Philip Rinaldi, Don Bosco's 3rd Successor at the head of the Congregation, to found a festive oratory in Quito to help children, especially from the working classes, in their moral and religious formation, and to prepare them to receive the sacraments of the Eucharist and Confirmation.
According to Fr Segundo Torres, it is presumed that it was on this occasion that Fr Izurieta brought a chasuble as a souvenir that, by oral tradition, is known to have been worn by Don Bosco and Don Rua; historically, the chasuble bears the inscription: ‘Sacred garments used by Ven. Don Bosco and Don Rua.’
Since his arrival in the country, the chasuble and other vestments - stole, maniple, corporal and burse - have remained in the sacristy of the Church of Christ the King. Fr Izurieta took great care of these objects until the day of his death in 1985.
After 92 years, the chasuble underwent a restoration process and was transferred to the Historical Archives of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province of Ecuador.
The chasuble measures 2.14 m x 0.75 cm and is made of velvet with silver metal threads, corresponding to the 19th-20th century.
This artefact, along with many others kept all over the world, is just a simple object, but it is able to remind everyone of the figure of someone who decided to spend his entire life in the service of the young people most in need.
Angélica Almeida,
Archivo Histórico ECU
