RMG – SDB Provinces: The "San Paolo" Province of Italy-Sicily (ISI)

27 March 2025
RMG – SDB Provinces: The "San Paolo" Province of Italy-Sicily (ISI)

(ANS – Rome) – Randazzo, a town on the slopes of Mount Etna in the Province of Catania, has a deep-rooted Salesian presence. In 1877, the Municipality of Randazzo sought to establish a technical school, and upon the suggestion of the Bishop of Acireale, they invited Don Bosco to take charge. Don Bosco sent 10 Salesians, led by Fr. Pietro Guidazio. Before departing, Guidazio received Don Bosco's blessing and reassured him, saying: “Do not fear, in Randazzo, you will accomplish great things.”

On October 31, 1879, the Salesians arrived in Randazzo. In the following years, new houses were established across Sicily, leading Don Rua in 1890 to separate the Roman Province from a new province, named "Sicula e Straniera – Esterna di Ognissanti", which included Sicilian, Spanish, Austrian, and English houses. In 1892, as Rector Major, Don Rua made his first visit to Sicily and established a novitiate in San Gregorio di Catania.

Evolution of the Province

Since 1890, the territorial boundaries of the province have changed multiple times. Over the years, it included the houses in Calabria and Malta, and from 1960 to 1964, a Salesian presence in Tunis. The Tunisian mission resumed from 2013 to 2023.

Current Structure (as of December 31, 2024)

The ISI Province, now exclusively focused on Sicily, comprises 148 Salesians, distributed as follows:

  • 128 Priests
  • 9 Brothers (Coadjutors)
  • 4 Deacons (3 temporary, 1 permanent)
  • 7 Clerics (Seminarians)
  • 144 Perpetually Professed Salesians
  • 4 Temporarily Professed

There are 16 canonically erected houses, plus 1 additional presence in Modica, which is canonically aggregated to Ragusa. 9 presences are under lay management.

Canonically Erected Houses

  • Alcamo
  • Barcellona
  • Catania – Barriera
  • Catania – Cibali
  • Catania – Ispettoria
  • Catania – Salette
  • Gela
  • Marsala
  • Messina-Giostra
  • Messina-San Tommaso
  • Palermo-Gesù Adolescente
  • Palermo-Ranchibile
  • Palermo-Santa Chiara
  • Pedara
  • Ragusa (and Modica)
  • San Cataldo

Salesian Presences Under Lay Management

  • Catania – San Filippo Neri (Oratory)
  • Catania – Villaggio Dusmet (Oratory)
  • Canicattì (Oratory)
  • Camporeale (At-risk youth shelter)
  • Catania – Colonia Don Bosco (Migrant solidarity hostel)
  • Leonforte (Oratory)
  • Trapani (Oratory)
  • Viagrande (Foster care for minors)
  • San Gregorio di Catania (At-risk youth shelter)

Apostolic Works

  • 1 Publishing House: Istituto Teologico San Tommaso
  • 3 At-risk Youth Shelters: Camporeale, 2 in San Gregorio di Catania
  • 1 Religious Pedagogy Center: Messina-San Tommaso
  • 1 Pre-Novitiate Community: Catania-Salette
  • 1 Theological Student Community: Messina-San Tommaso
  • 5 Public Churches/Rectories
  • 2 Vocational Training Centers: Catania-Barriera, Palermo-Gesù Adolescente
  • 1 Provincial Infirmary: Catania-Barriera
  • 1 Theological Institute: Messina-San Tommaso (in service since 1969 for the dioceses of Messina, Patti, Franciscans, and laypeople)
  • 21 Oratories-Youth Centers
  • 12 Parishes
  • 1 Radio Station: Radio Don Bosco Ragusa
  • 1 University Residence: Catania-Barriera
  • 2 Schools: Catania-Cibali, Palermo-Ranchibile
  • 1 Higher Institute of Bioethics and Sexology: Messina-San Tommaso
  • 3 Hospitality Facilities: Piazza Armerina, Sant’Alfio, San Gregorio

The Salesian Family in the Province

The Salesian Family Council of Sicily was established in 1990. The following Salesian Family groups are present in the province:

  • Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB)
  • Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA)
  • Apostles of the Holy Family
  • Salesian Oblates of the Sacred Heart
  • Disciples
  • Association of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA)
  • Past Pupils of Don Bosco
  • Past Pupils of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians
  • Salesian Cooperators
  • Volunteers of Don Bosco
  • Volunteers with Don Bosco

Notable Salesian Works in ISI

  • Don Bosco Ranchibile School – Palermo: Approx. 1,000 students (middle and high school); One of the largest private schools in Southern Italy
  • COL – Centro Orizzonte Lavoro (Horizon Work Center): Founded in 1987 by a Salesian, now the official branch of Youth Ministry for employment assistance
  • Social Enterprise "Don Bosco 2000": Operates 13 migrant reception and integration centers in Sicily; Implements the “circular migration” model, where trained migrants return home to start businesses. Successful model applied in Tambacounda, Senegal
  • Oratories in High-Risk Areas: Catania-Salette, Gela, Messina-Giostra, Palermo-Santa Chiara. Focused on socially vulnerable youth and educational poverty reduction
  • Salesian-Laity Formation Project: Developed by a joint team; Implemented for the past two years, Trains the Councils of Salesian lay-run institutions

Guidelines for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Persons

This province continues to uphold Don Bosco’s legacy by providing education, pastoral care, and social assistance across Sicily, ensuring that the Salesian mission thrives in service of young people, especially the most disadvantaged.

A video briefly presenting Salesian life in the ISI Province is available on ANSChannel.

View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://www.infoans.org/en/sections/news/item/23867-rmg-sdb-provinces-the-san-paolo-province-of-italy-sicily-isi#sigProId8b09e17aa4

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