RMG – SDB Provinces: The "Saints Cyril and Methodius" Province of Slovenia (SLO)

19 March 2025
RMG – SDB Provinces: The "Saints Cyril and Methodius" Province of Slovenia (SLO)

(ANS – Rome) – The Salesian charisma first touched Slovenian lands, which were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, through Salesian Cooperators like diocesan priest Luka Jeran and catechist Janez Smrekar. They had personal and connections with Don Bosco through their letters.

They were the ones who purchased and prepared the castle in Ljubljana-Rakovnik, where the first Salesians arrived in 1901, immediately beginning to care for orphaned and poor boys. Near the castle, a new institute and the Church of Mary Help of Christians were built, both completed in 1909. Another boarding school in Radna, established in 1907, was dedicated to the formation of novices and clerics. In 1912, another institution, "Marijanišče" in Veržej, was used for the formation of Slovenian, German, and Hungarian clerics before becoming a secondary school and a summer youth center.

Over time, the Salesian mission took root and adapted to local culture, expanding to other areas in Slovenia and Croatia, establishing various educational and pastoral institutions in schools and parishes.

In 1922, the Yugoslavian Vice-Province was founded, becoming an autonomous province three years later. During World War II, the Italian and German occupations hindered the Salesian mission, which faced an even greater challenge after the war due to the communist regime. Many Salesians were either killed or forced into exile, and by 1948, there were no longer any Salesian educational institutions in Slovenia.

The Sons of Don Bosco could only work in parishes, with some "private" Salesian activities. In 1966, they were permitted to establish a secondary school in Želimlje, but only for aspirants to the Salesian congregation. Despite restrictions, the Salesians also began to develop their mission in the Balkans, particularly in Serbia, Kosovo, and Montenegro, though their work remained limited to parish activities.

With the fall of communism in 1989 and Slovenia's independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, the Salesian mission was able to expand again, despite some obstacles related to denationalization and reorganization. The Salesian school in Želimlje became the first private boarding high school in Slovenia, and alongside parishes, youth centers flourished. Social work initiatives and youth ministry projects, such as the "Oratory Project," developed into national programs, offering spiritual and vocational guidance.

As in many parts of the Western world, the Slovenian Province today faces challenges related to secularization, including a decline in vocations, changes in youth culture, and migration. Having sent many Salesian missionaries abroad in the past, the province now participates in the "Project Europe" initiative and has welcomed six young Salesian missionaries.

Current Structure of the SLO Province

The Slovenian Province (SLO) currently has 89 Salesians, including:

  • 74 priests
  • 6 coadjutors
  • 8 young confreres in formation (7 clerics and 1 coadjutor)
  • 2 novices

The Salesian mission is carried out through 10 Salesian communities engaged in various apostolic activities:

  • 26 parishes
  • 5 youth centers 2 schools (Želimlje High School and the Ljubljana Rakovnik Music School)
  • 2 boarding schools for youth (Želimlje and Ljubljana Rakovnik)
  • 1 university residence (Ljubljana Rakovnik)
  • 2 social works ("Skala" in Ljubljana Kodeljevo and "PUMO" in Celje)
  • 1 vocational training center ("Center DUO" in Veržej)
  • 1 Salesian publishing house ("Salve," celebrating 30 years in 2024)
  • 2 retreat houses offering programs for families and youth groups (Veržej and Želimlje)

Youth Ministry

The province organizes numerous camps, gatherings, and programs for young people, including:

  • The summer camp oratory program, which takes place in over 300 parishes (most of which are not Salesian) "Savio Kamp", a camp for altar servers
  • The "Uskovnica" program, a three-week spiritual and educational program for university students and young professionals
  • "SportKat", a Salesian sports association for youth
  • "Mesto na Gori" (City on the Mountain), which provides support for youth music and choir groups
  • The promotion of the beatification and canonization process of Servant of God Fr. Andrej Majcen, a Slovenian missionary in China and Vietnam.

Salesian Family

There is a strong collaboration with the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) from the Slovenian-Croatian Province. Cooperation is also growing with the Salesian Cooperators, and Salesians serve as spiritual guides for groups of Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB) and the Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA). The Past Pupils of Don Bosco are currently undergoing a process of reorganization.

A key instrument for sharing Salesian spirituality and news among the various groups is the Slovenian Salesian Bulletin – "Don Bosko", available both in digital and print formats, with an average circulation of 9,000 copies.

For more information, visit the official website of the Slovenian Salesian Province: www.donbosko.si.

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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