The "Sacred Heart" is a historical center for Salesians all over the world: it is the house where Don Bosco stayed when he was in Rome; it is the place of memory and love for the "Sacred Heart of Jesus"; it houses the homonymous basilica where there is also the altar of Mary Help of Christians, where Don Bosco wept repeatedly during the one Mass he celebrated there, remembering the work done in his life; the "Sacred Heart" is also the place where Don Bosco wrote the famous letter of 1884 to young people.
Undoubtedly, the decision to choose the "Sacred Heart" as the Salesian Central Seat entailed an intense dialogue with the Salesian District of Central Italy (ICC) and the CISI National Center, and the transfer of pastoral activities by the year 2020.
The Rector Major also said the Central Office will assume the pastoral services related to the "Sacred Heart" basilica and to the young immigrants, as well as the animation of the "Don Bosco rooms", as part of the Salesian sites.
In the letter sent by the Rector Major to the Salesians and to the Salesian Family all over the world, the whole procedure that was followed and matured into this historic decision, its processes and the timing of implementation, are specified in detail.
