(ANS – Tolmezzo – October 19, 2026) – On Friday, October 16, 2026, the town of Tolmezzo celebrated 100 years of Salesian presence in Carnia. The day brought together the Salesian community, the town, and the surrounding region, with Fr. Fabio Attard, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco and the 11th successor of St. John Bosco, traveling to Friuli to mark this important anniversary.

The celebrations spanned the entire day, involving young people, students, former students, youth leaders, families, Salesians, educators, and representatives of local institutions. From the morning onward, the atmosphere reflected the spirit of a Salesian house. The Rector Major was welcomed among the schoolchildren in a festive gathering that immediately placed young people at the center of the celebration—the true protagonists of this 100-year history.

The celebrations continued in the council chamber at Tolmezzo City Hall for the official ceremony. Those in attendance included Roberto Vicentini, mayor of Tolmezzo; Fr. Silvio Zanchetta, Salesian provincial; Barbara Zilli, regional councilor for finance, representing Massimiliano Fedriga, president of the region; as well as local mayors and administrators, civil, religious, and military authorities, and representatives of businesses and associations.

During the ceremony, the Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region presented Fr. Fabio Attard with a commemorative plaque in recognition of the Salesian Congregation’s civic, social, and educational commitment to young people and the Carnia community.

Addressing institutional representatives, Fr. Attard highlighted two words that can guide both the past and future of the Salesian presence: alliance and synergy. From the beginning, he explained, St. John Bosco understood that education cannot be the work of one person acting alone. It requires collaboration among individuals, institutions, and organizations united by a shared responsibility for younger generations.

“You cannot educate by creating divisions: You educate by building synergies and alliances.”

The centenary offered an opportunity to reaffirm a conviction that has shaped the entire history of the Salesians in Tolmezzo: children and young people must remain at the center. “Our children deserve the best,” Fr. Attard reminded those present, “not some abstract ‘best’ made up of promises, but all the concrete good that we are capable of offering them.”

A Century of Education Rooted in the Spirit of Don Bosco

Late in the morning, the community gathered at Tolmezzo Cathedral for a solemn Eucharistic celebration. In his homily, Fr. Attard reflected on the Gospel account of Jesus placing a child among his disciples, using this gesture to shed light on the story of St. John Bosco himself.

John was a poor boy who lost his father at an early age and grew up in difficult circumstances. Yet his life teaches us that “poverty and misery are a condition, not a sentence.”

Don Bosco never forgot his humble beginnings. After becoming a priest, he chose to return to the poor boys of Turin, offering them a home, a playground, an education, and the prospect of a future. His example continues to challenge people today not to forget the poor and to choose kindness, friendship, and closeness in the ordinary circumstances of daily life.

“Don Bosco knows that simply having fun in the playground is not enough,” emphasized Fr. Attard. “Of course, it is important to have a healthy and safe environment, but education is also essential. We must help these young people to grow, to discover the meaning of God in their own lives and, as adults, to become responsible protagonists of their own future.”

He concluded his homily with a clear invitation to look ahead: “Let us begin this second century of Salesian presence in Tolmezzo together.”

The Preventive System: An Educational Approach for Today

In the afternoon, the Rector Major met with young people at the local oratory. During the evening event, he recalled receiving personal letters from them—profound testimonies to the questions and hopes held in the hearts of young people. This encounter provided a natural introduction to the evening’s theme: Don Bosco’s Preventive System.

At the Candoni Theatre, Fr. Attard offered a reflection on the Salesian educational method as the 150th anniversary of its first written formulation approaches.

He explained that the Preventive System is first and foremost an experience, a relationship, and a family-like atmosphere—not merely a theory or educational technique. Its three pillars—reason, religion, and loving-kindness—continue to offer guidance for education today.

Reason means meeting young people where they are and helping them take responsibility for their lives. Religion opens the door to the deeper questions every person carries within. Loving-kindness assures young people that even amid their mistakes and struggles, they will find someone willing to love them and walk alongside them.

Preserving the Past and Building the Future

The evening at the Candoni Theatre also featured the presentation of a centenary book documenting the history of the Salesian work through texts, photographs, and archival materials. The story is also told through a photographic exhibition organized for the anniversary, featuring images and testimonies spanning the different decades of Salesian presence in Tolmezzo.

A century, therefore, represents more than a milestone to celebrate. Above all, it represents a rich educational legacy to preserve and carry forward. Over the years, thousands of young people, families, educators, and Salesians have helped build a history deeply rooted in Tolmezzo and the Carnia region.

The centenary now invites the community to write a new chapter, guided by the same principle that inspired Don Bosco and that Fr. Fabio Attard shared throughout the day’s events: meeting every young person where they are, believing in the goodness within their hearts, and building a community around them that communicates through its very presence.

“Consider, then, how important it is today to invest in spaces for human education,” the Rector Major reminded the assembly, “with people who have the ability to see the human person and the depth that lies within. Consequently, to be there.”

The celebrations will continue over the coming months, culminating in May 2027. Planned events include the traditional feast of St. John Bosco and the feast of Mary Help of Christians.

The first century has come to an end. The second has already begun.