The presence of the Salesians in the Triveneto region began at the end of the 19th century, with the first works founded in Este, Mogliano Veneto, Trent and Verona Don Bosco, initially incardinated in the Piedmont Province. In 1895 the Venetian St Mark Province was officially erected and in 1924, after the separation from Lombardy, it became the only Salesian Province in the area.

Until 1959, the Salesian presence in the Triveneto was unified under the single Venetian St Mark Province. In that year, due to the educational and pastoral needs of the time, a division was made into two Provinces, resulting in

• the Venetian St Mark Province (IVE) with headquarters in Mogliano Veneto (later transferred to Venice-Mestre in 1991);
• the Veneto San Zeno Province (IVO), with headquarters in Verona.

The two Provinces operated separately for over forty years, developing and consolidating their educational works in their respective territories and launching various missionary initiatives (Bolivia, Brazil, Madagascar, Germany, Romania and Moldavia) and service to the poorest and most marginalised. However, at the beginning of the 2000s, they began to reflect on the possibility of merging them, which was part of a broader strategy of the Salesian Congregation to improve the quality of its educational and apostolic presence.

In 2003, it was therefore decided to reunify the two Provinces into a single reality: the North-East Italy ‘San Marco’ (INE) Province was born, with its headquarters in Venice-Mestre. This event marked a new chapter in the history of the Salesians in the Triveneto, allowing for greater synergy between the communities, a more integrated management of the works and a strengthening of the educational and pastoral mission.

Today, the San Marco Province continues to carry on Don Bosco's charism with dedication, through a vast network of schools, oratories, vocational training centres and pastoral activities, always with the aim of forming ‘good Christians and honest citizens’.

To animate the activities of INE today there are 266 professed Salesians (213 priests, 1 deacon, 38 brother, 14 temporary professed) to which 3 novices must be added.

These Sons of Don Bosco work in a large number of different pastoral, educational and social structures. There are in fact:

• 10 parishes, 15 oratories and 8 youth centres, as spiritual and educational garrisons;
• 26 schools and 7 vocational training centres (VTCs), offering education and technical training for young people, with courses in various fields such as mechanics, electronics, graphics, communication and mechatronics.
• 1 university - the Salesian University Institute of Venice (IUSVE) - which offers bachelor's and master's degree courses in pedagogy, psychology and communication, at two campuses, in Venice and Verona;
• 6 Opere Sociali - centres for the inclusion of young people in difficulty, with reception and training projects.

All these facilities welcome thousands of young people every year, offering them educational, spiritual and work opportunities.

The most significant works and projects of the St Mark Province include

• The IUSVE: an academic centre of excellence that offers degree courses in pedagogy, psychology and communication, contributing to the training of future educators and professionals.
• The ‘Gemini Project - Schools and Vocational Training Centres’, an initiative aimed at integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the teaching of Salesian schools. Launched in the school year 2024-2025, the project includes advanced training for teachers, aimed at using Google Gemini AI in educational design.
• Projects for social inclusion: at the San Luigi work in Gorizia and Bearzi work in Udine, more than a hundred unaccompanied foreign minors (MSNA) are welcomed and socially integrated.

In addition to the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), the St Mark Province is enriched by the presence of other groups of the Salesian Family, who collaborate in the educational and pastoral mission, keeping Don Bosco's charism alive. Among them we would like to mention in particular: the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), the Salesian Cooperators (ASC), the Past Pupils of Don Bosco (Ex.DB), the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), the Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB), the Sisters of Mary Help of Christians (SMA), the Salesian Oblate Sisters of the Sacred Heart (SOSC) and the Catechist Sisters of Mary Immaculate (SMI).

With 130 years of history behind it, the St Mark Province of INE continues to be a point of reference for the youth of the Triveneto, carrying out Don Bosco's dream with passion and dedication. Thanks to the commitment of the Salesians and the Salesian Family, every year thousands of young people find opportunities for educational, spiritual and professional growth.

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