(ANS – Avigliana) – On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, the Salesian Madonna dei Laghi House in Avigliana hosted the official launch of the Costellazioni y La Comunità che Educa projects, promoted by the Salesian Youth Association (AGS) for the ETS Territory and the Salesian Agostino Richelmy Institute, with the support and collaborative planning of the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Torino (CRT). The presence of leaders from both the institutional and Salesian communities, beginning with the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard, underscored the significance of the initiative.

The event marked an important milestone for the Salesian network in Piedmont and the Lower Susa Valley. At the heart of the gathering was a shared commitment to restoring a renewed educational mission to the historic house in Avigliana, enabling it to become a stable point of reference for young people, especially those who are vulnerable or at risk of leaving school.

A Project Born of Collaboration

Following the welcome, the program opened with remarks from the house director, Elisabetta Scavino, and the Provincial of the Salesians of Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta, Fr. Leonardo Mancini. Their presentations were followed by an overview of the project’s vision and objectives.

Architect Paolo Genero presented the La Comunità che Educa project, while Alessandro Brescia outlined the initiatives already underway and the future development of Costellazioni.

Among the distinguished guests were Andrea Archinà, Mayor of Avigliana, and Anna Maria Poggi, President of the CRT Foundation.

In his widely appreciated address, the Rector Major reminded participants that “the power of love is the answer to the culture of power,” emphasizing the Gospel-centered and social foundations of the Salesian educational mission.

A Home Generating New Opportunities

The project envisions the Madonna dei Laghi House not simply as a building to be repurposed, but as a living, open, and dynamic space—a place capable of welcoming, guiding, educating, and connecting people and experiences. The shared goal is to create an educational environment in which young people, families, Salesian communities, institutions, and local organizations can work together to provide new opportunities for growth.

AGS for the ETS Territory will play a central role in coordinating project activities and strengthening the educational initiatives already present throughout the region.

At the same time, the CRT Foundation, which has long been committed to combating educational poverty, reaffirmed the importance of projects capable of generating a lasting impact on local communities. The collaborative planning effort launched with the Salesian Richelmy Institute and AGS for the ETS Territory seeks to transform the Madonna dei Laghi Sanctuary complex into a leading educational and community hub for the Lower Susa Valley, supported by ongoing evaluation of its social impact.

The morning concluded with a visit to the sanctuary and a moment of prayer and reflection, during which the Rector Major imparted the blessing of Mary Help of Christians. This was followed by a symbolic gesture: the planting of a pomegranate tree by Fr. Attard and President Poggi, representing a community committed to putting down roots and bearing fruit.

The event ended with a community gathering on the house grounds. “A beautiful day, a strong partnership, and a shared goal: united against educational poverty,” commented the President of the CRT Foundation at the conclusion of the event.

Through Costellazioni y La Comunità che Educa, Avigliana reaffirms its role as both a symbolic and practical center of educational collaboration—a place with a rich history that is now preparing to create new opportunities for young people, especially those most in need of guidance, support, and encouragement.

Source: Salesians ICP