The Salesian Youth Ministry manual - Frame of Reference - tells us that the Oratory of St Francis de Sales was the first apostolate established by Don Bosco. This was a journey that sprung from humble origins.
It all began in 1841 when Don Bosco was studying moral theology at the Convitto Ecclesiastico after his ordination. On 8 December that year, he met Bartolomeo Garelli in the sacristy of the church of St Francis of Assisi. That same evening, he invited him to his residence, spoke to him kindly, prayed a Hail Mary and taught him some of the basics of the Christian faith. Slowly, Garelli invited his friends and many other youngsters started to meet Don Bosco.
From 1842, Don Bosco would invite boys on feast days and give them a chance to receive the sacraments of confession and communion. Then, later in the evening, they would come together to play games, sing hymns, and have a catechism class that would end with a good night story by Don Bosco. These boys included stonecutters, bricklayers, masons, factory workers and migrants from distant villages. This is how things normally ran the 3 years he studied at the Convitto, up to the end of October 1844.
Already in September 1844, Don Bosco was appointed as the director at the little hospital of St Philomena and called to work in the refuge of Marchioness Barolo, which took care of girls and destitute women. While at the refuge, Archbishop Fransoni approved of his work with boys, and asked him to request the Marchioness for a place to gather them. Thus, on 8 December 1844, on the feast day of Immaculate Conception at the refuge, Don Bosco inaugurated the oratory.
However, the boys created a ruckus and disturbed the peace of the neighbourhood and therefore Don Bosco choose to move out with his boys from the refuge. On a Sunday in July 1845, Don Bosco shifted the oratory to the church of St Martin of Mills. They all looked like migrants on the move. Within two months of their arrival, they had to relocate to St Peter in Chains because the employees at St Martin’s could not put up with the jumping, singing and yelling of the boys. But even here they did not last for more than a day because the housekeeper lost her patience with them.
In November 1845, Don Bosco rented three rooms in the house belonging to Fr Moretta, which was located more or less where the basilica of Mary Help of Christians stands today at Valdocco. Here for the first time, he began the night classes for his youth. Many of the boys were attracted by the games and outings which Don Bosco organised and they decided to attend the catechism classes and the other practices of piety. In March 1846, they had to leave the Moretta house and rent a field that belonged to the Filippi brothers.
We can very well see the many obstacles that came Don Bosco’s way. However, the oratory kept on growing and flourishing with youngsters. We might think it tedious, but they were quite fine with going around place to place as they thoroughly enjoyed the mixture of devotions, games and outings. However, within a month the Filippi brothers ordered Don Bosco to leave their field, citing complaints from the neighbours as their fields and crops were destroyed by the boys’ energetic and dynamic games.
5 April 1846 was the last day in the field of the Filippie brothers. Don Bosco ran his eyes over the crowd of youth playing, not knowing where he would gather them the next Sunday. He whispered this prayer: “My God, why don’t you show me where you want me to gather these children?”
Within two hours of this prayer, a gentleman, Pancrazio Soave, approached Don Bosco and spoke to him of the possibility of renting a few rooms in a shed. This shed which today has an iconic status in the annals of Salesian history belonged to a certain Mr Joseph Pinardi. On the following Sunday, 12 April 1846, was Easter Sunday and Don Bosco took possession of this new place which is at present the Oratory of St Francis de Sales in Valdocco, Turin. It is from here his work and mission spread all across the world.
As we look through the chronicles of the Province of Bombay in similar light, we see humble origins of Salesians reaching out to the poor and the marginalised boys and girls in the neighbourhood either by organising tuitions, festive clubs, youth gatherings and oratories within their premises or going out to the ‘bastis’ and villages and organising similar activities for them in ‘loco’. In all our missionary initiatives in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Ahmednagar, the first Salesians spent significant time living in the villages sharing their lives, learning their culture and organising social, cultural and educational activities amidst them. Especially in the rural setting many initiatives like night classes and various vocational education centres providing life skills and opportunities for the marginalised youth were set up later.
The Province also launched oratories in formation settings, be it in Pune or Nashik or Lonavla for that matter, young Salesians/aspirants were encouraged to set up oratories, take catechism classes, animate choir groups and organise games. In all these initiatives, the four dimensions of the oratory of Valdocco were given special emphasis. The Oratory Model is based on the experience of a home that welcomes, school that educates, church that evangelises, and playground for recreation. The oratories were well followed up, reflected upon and evaluated, which became an integral part of the formative journey.
Besides the formation houses, other settings in the Province have had very significant initiatives in establishing oratories and youth centres. While we do not have a systematic and orderly account of the oratories, we must make mention of different initiatives which were started in various houses over the years. We could start by talking of Don Bosco, Matunga, where already way back in 1983 a daily oratory was started for slum kids and children of pavement dwellers. While being traditional in many ways what was unique about this oratory was the attempts made for few of these youngsters to get admitted to the regular Don Bosco school. At Yerwada in Pune, right from the very beginning of the Salesian work, a daily oratory was set up for the underprivileged children of the neighbourhood parish. This oratory was a resounding success and was mostly managed by the brothers who came from Koregaon Park to help out.
In Gujarat at Don Bosco, Makarpura, the ‘Roshni Project’ in which children from the neighbouring slums were not only admitted to the Don Bosco School but also helped to cope with their studies and do well. This initiative is still being carried out. The ‘Star Kids Academy’ was also launched in which the school teachers would go out to help the kids of the slums with their studies. This led to many of our communities like Matunga School, Provincial House, Andheri, Borivli starting evening classes and oratory for the poor and marginalised youngsters of the neighbourhood. In each set-up, some places were made available for assisted study. Besides that, they were given a chance to play, provided a snack and also given a small value-based talk before going home.
While oratories have always been our priority in the Province, with the attention of the confreres over the years shifting to more formal and institutional work, the oratories began to fade into the background. However, at GC 28, the Rector Major has exhorted us to have an absolute priority for the young, the poorest and most abandoned and defenceless, which was resounded in Provincial Chapter 2022.
This should be the distinctive feature of all our Salesian houses. Steps and initiatives have already been taken in this direction both in city and rural areas. Groups of poor children playing in our premises assisted by a Salesian or lay person have now become a familiar sight. However, we need to take this initiative ahead and make this vision a reality in the truest sense of the word.
As we look forward to taking this mission ahead, we need to involve the Salesian Family and other lay members for help and assistance in the oratory. Let us look at the sustainability and continuity of some of our existing setups. Above all as Salesians we need to go out and welcome in - the challenging needs and demanding situations of our young people today. An oratory can take various forms according to the signs of times and need of the hour.
As we revisit this glorious past of our congregation and Province, let us renew ourselves with ever growing zeal for working for poor youth and relaunching with fervour and commitment thus making Don Bosco’s dream a reality.
