The ICC was formed from the union of four previous provinces:The Roman Province (IRO), dedicated to St. Peter, covering the Lazio region; the Sardinian Vice-Province "Madonna di Bonaria" (ISA); the Ligurian-Tuscan Province (ILT), under the patronage of St. John the Baptist; the Adriatic Province (IAD), dedicated to Our Lady of Loreto and covering Abruzzo, Marche, and Umbria.

This vast territory includes eight regions of Central Italy, some of which have had a Salesian presence since Don Bosco’s time. He established the first Salesian houses outside Piedmont in Alassio (1870), Genoa-Sampierdarena (1872), and Rome Sacred Heart (1880).

Evolution and Current Status

In 2008, the province had 52 Salesian houses and 570 Salesians. Today, there are 32 canonically established houses (set to become 33 with the upcoming canonical erection of Olbia in September 2025) and 240 Salesians.

The four former provinces operated for many years, undergoing transformations, opening and closing houses as needs evolved, always guided by the Salesian spirit of creativity and initiative. Their efforts resulted in numerous educational and pastoral works for young people.

During the 1980s, all four provinces engaged in missionary outreach, actively supporting the Africa Project by establishing the Salesian charism in:

Madagascar (IRO and ISA)Cameroon (ILT)Nigeria (IAD)

Following the creation of the Mediterranean Region in 2014, ICC responded to the Rector Major’s call to focus on the Middle East as a new missionary frontier, particularly in Egypt, integrating it into its missionary animation strategy.

Salesians and Lay Collaboration

Today, the Sacred Heart Circumscription of Central Italy is composed of:

• 197 priests
• 3 deacons
• 30 brothers (coadjutors)
• 1 student
• 9 temporarily professed Salesians

They serve within a network of over 4,000 lay collaborators (employees and volunteers) and nearly 20,000 young people in various Salesian environments, including:

• 19 parishes with youth centers
• 9 youth centers in pastoral zones
• 6 schools
• 2 university residences
• 4 centers for minors and several day centers
• 10 vocational training centers (with a new one set to open in Ancona) offering courses in hospitality, mechanics, electronics, graphics, IT, mechatronics, automotive, plumbing, electrical work, wellness, and automotive repair.

Key Initiatives and Salesian Identity

Several important initiatives characterize the ICC province:

• Lay leadership in Salesian houses and oratories: Houses in Alassio, Genoa Quarto, and Varazze, as well as oratories in Genzano, Civitavecchia, and Rome-Speranza, are entrusted to lay leaders. This highlights the vitality of the shared Salesian charism, making laypeople full co-responsible partners in the mission. A specialized team is working to guide and expand this model.
• Networking among Salesian Educational Pastoral Communities (SEPs): Some SEPs collaborate as a network rather than functioning independently. One significant example is in Cagliari, where three SEPs have been entrusted to a single Salesian community. Similarly, from September 2025, a single Salesian community will oversee both Macerata and Civitanova Marche.
• Developing a Salesian educational curriculum for all schools, ensuring an integrated approach between faith, culture, and life across disciplines.
• Collaboration with the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA): In Macerata and Florence, FMA sisters and Salesians share not just the mission but the same house, fostering a new model of Salesian presence.

A Strong Salesian Family Presence

The Salesian Family is deeply rooted in this region, expressed through various groups sharing the Salesian mission, including:

• Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB)
• Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA)
• Salesian Cooperators (ASC)
• Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA)
• Past Pupils of Don Bosco and FMA
• Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB)
• Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary
• Salesian Oblates of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
• Apostles of the Holy Family
• Sisters of Charity of Jesus
• Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians
• Volunteers With Don Bosco
• Witnesses of the Risen Christ
• Congregation of St. Michael the Archangel
• Canção Nova

New Leadership and Future Commitments

As of September 2024, Fr. Roberto Colameo serves as the new Provincial Superior of the Sacred Heart Circumscription. His mission is to animate and guide this dynamic Salesian community—Salesians, laypeople, and young people—ensuring that the passion for education instilled by Don Bosco remains alive and fruitful. Together, they continue to be eloquent signs of God's love for young people in the many educational settings they serve.

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