During the Second World War (1939), Slovakia obtained an autonomous province dedicated to Mary Help of Christians. Then, however, in 1950, under the communist regime, all Salesian houses were closed, and the religious were deported or subjected to forced labour. Despite this, the Salesians continued to operate in secret, and in this way formed new vocations.

With the fall of communism in 1989, the Salesians came out of hiding, rebuilt their communities and resumed their educational and pastoral activities. They founded new houses in various Slovakian cities and undertook international missions in Russia and Azerbaijan. Among the most significant initiatives are the novitiate in Poprad, the postnovitiate in Žilina, the schools in Bratislava, the Vocational Training Centre in Žilina, the primary and nursery school in Bardejov, which works with the Roma population, and cultural activities of great significance and importance such as the Lumen Festival.

For the Slovakian province of ‘Mary Help of Christians’, SLK major events were the beatification of Father Titus Zeman (2017), martyr for vocations, and Pope Francis’ visit to the Salesian house in Baku, Azerbaijan (2016), and in Košice, Luník IX area, Slovakia (2021). Recent challenges, such as the Covid-19 epidemic, have prompted the Province to develop new forms of online communication and activities, such as the ‘Bibliq’ project.

Last year the SLK Province celebrated 100 years of Salesian presence in Slovakia with joy, gratitude and enthusiasm for the future.

Currently the Province has 177 Salesians in perpetual vows: 152 priests, 18 brothers and 7 students in formation, as well as 5 in temporary vows (two brothers and three students) and 2 novices.

These Salesians, with the collaboration of many lay people sharing responsibility for the mission and other men and women religious, dedicate themselves to young people, especially those most at risk, in 26 different houses – 23 of which are in Slovakia, two in Russia (in Aldan and Yakutsk, in the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia) and one in Azerbaijan. Since each house carries out various educational, pastoral or apostolic activities, the SLK Province is responsible for 17 parishes, 3 schools, 20 oratories, 19 youth centres and two specific pastoral services for the Roma population.

The Salesian Family in the Province is also numerous and active. In total there are 8 active groups, with a total of about 2,300 members. Sharing the Salesian mission, specifically their respective charism, there are in fact 85 Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), 1,162 Salesian Cooperators (ASC), 120 members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA), 640 Past Pupils of Don Bosco (EX.DB), 112 Past Pupils of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (EX.FMA), 150 Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB), 4 Volunteers with Don Bosco (CDB) and 8 members of the Contemplative Fraternity of Mary of Nazareth (FCMN).

Among the most important projects of Salesian ministry in SLK, we can mention:

• the work with the Roma community in two locations in eastern Slovakia: Bardejov - Poštárka; and Košice – Luník, a sign of continuous dedication to the poorest and most marginalised;
• The Domino Football Club of Bratislava, at the Trnávka house, the largest youth football club in Slovakia;
• Orientation days and experiential prevention programmes for school classes;
• Careful and well-defined child protection policies covering the entire process and the formation of all those who come into contact with young people in Salesian works. In this respect, the Salesians also collaborate with the National Conference of Major Superiors of Religious.
• Bibliq, a project to make the Bible accessible and experiential for teenagers, in a competitive way.
• The two-year Theology course for young people, which combines theological study, prayer and communion, and which has inspired similar projects abroad.
• The Leadership School which prepares and supports young active people in Salesian works, improving their skills and creating opportunities for exchange, becoming a model for the Slovak dioceses.
• The Lumen Music Festival, an annual event that attracts thousands of young people from all over the country, offering an encounter with Christ through music, art, workshops and prayer, involving artists from all over the world and breaking stereotypes about Christianity.
• The Vocational Training Centre in Žilina, characterised by the motto ‘Let's walk together’, which sees its students win national professional competitions every year.

To illustrate the wealth of these initiatives carried out by the Salesians from SLK, a short but evocative video clip is available on the YouTube channel of the Agenzia iNfo Salesiana.

• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
• Title Title
•  

Tweet