Ivrea's Cardinal Cagliero Missionary Institute after 130 years

       Cardinal Cagliero Ivrea Missionary Institute Piedmont, 16 November 2022 -- Exactly 130 years after the foundation of Salesian school in Ivrea, known for the past 100 years as the Cardinal Cagliero Missionary Institute, the Salesian SDB community is moving out and the direction of the educational institution is completely entrusted to the first lay Director, Ms Melisenda Mondini, Salesian Cooperator. At present the Ivrea-based 'Istituto Cagliero' with 300 students (primary, junior secondary school and oratory), 30 lay staff, Salesian Cooperators, active Parents association and Oratory animators (many of them past pupils) is probably the first such Salesian institution in Italy.

       This epochal change has not come about suddenly. Over the past 20 years, lay people have been entrusted with key positions in the school, both educative or administrative and the Salesian formation both of youth leaders (Oratory on Friday) and a consistent group of Salesian Cooperators has made this move possible. After appointment of the first lay school director in 2020, now also the last 3 SDBs from this community are moving out in November 2020. The accompaniment of this Salesian work entrusted to lay people is under the mantle of the provincial centre of the Piedmont-Valle d'Aosta province (ICP).

       The Cardinal Cagliero Missionary Instituteis well known among Salesians in the EAO region due to a good number of Italian missionaries who were sent there following 3 years of initial formation in this Aspirantate - to Thailand and other countries, and for many young EAO missionaries Ivrea is among the Salesian places in Piedmont they visited during their new missionary course since 2009. For South Asia Salesians, Ivrea is an ongoing inspiration for their two Missionary Aspirantates established 11 years ago in Sirajuli (ING - Northeast of India) and in Perambur (INM - South of India). Almost 1000 Salesian missionaries were formed in this institution.

       The 130 year history of this institution comprises the SDB formation house (1892-1921), Salesian missionary aspirantate (1922-1980) and then continued as Ivrea's (Canavese region) only Catholic educational institution. After 130 years of an SDB community education continues now with responsibility for the Salesian ethos entrusted to lay mission partners, animated from within by Salesian Cooperators and accompanied by SDB Province leadership.

       When you come to Italy for a Don Bosco pilgrimage, why not also visit the Cardinal Cagliero Institute in Ivrea, just 50 kilometers from Valdocco, Turin!

       Missionary Institute Cardinal Cagliero website, FB, YouTube:

• Presentation
• Christmas 2021
• Related news article: AustraLasia 5452 (II) Missionary Aspirantates with 100 years of history - From Ivrea to India

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