A century of history, faces, courtyards, and education was transformed into a lively and vibrant present last weekend in San Cataldo. The city celebrated the closing of the centenary of the presence of the Salesians with the Extraordinary Visitation of the Rector Major, Fr Fabio Attard. This was a very rare event for the local news: in a hundred years, only three Rectors Major in office had visited the city, starting with Blessed Philip Rinaldi, who in 1923 promised the arrival of the Salesians which then took place on 6 December 1924, thanks to the tenacity of Canon Cataldo Pagano.
An unbreakable bond: Honorary Citizenship
The visit began on Saturday, 10 January, with a moment of deep familiarity. Welcomed by the groups of the EPC (Educative and Pastoral Community) and the Work at San Cataldo, Fr Fabio Attard listened to the different local situations, sharing a fraternal lunch that immediately set the tone for the visit: closeness and listening.
The institutional highlight came in the afternoon at the Gaetano Saporito auditorium, where the City Council conferred Honorary Citizenship of San Cataldo on Fr Fabio Attard. This gesture seals a century of educational and social commitment that has left an indelible mark on the civil fabric of the city. The evening continued at the Oratory with a ‘Celebrating with Fr Fabio’ Show, an explosion of typically Salesian joy.
The Homily: ‘Servants in the Servant’
On Sunday 11 January, on the Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord, the Mother Church hosted the solemn Eucharistic Celebration, presided over by the Rector Major and concelebrated by numerous Salesians linked to the history of the San Cataldo house.
In his homily, Fr Attard charted the course for the next century of mission, starting from baptismal identity: ‘Servants in the Servant: the Salesian charism as a baptismal vocation.’ Commenting on the figure of the Servant mentioned by the prophet Isaiah, the Rector Major emphasised how the Salesian identity must reflect the style of Christ: not a triumphant messiah, but a humble servant.
Referring to the Salesian style of the preventive system, the Rector Major recalled that the Salesian educator is not a master, but a servant who accompanies young people, recognising the image of God in each one. He defined this approach as the ‘revolution of tenderness’, citing the patience of the Servant who does not break the bruised reed or extinguish the smouldering wick.
Furthermore, reflecting on the theme of this Sunday, Fr Fabio recalled: ‘Baptism is never just for ourselves’, urging the community to be ‘the light of the nations’, helping young people to find meaning in life beyond consumerism and freeing them from addictions and invisible chains.
The celebration ended with a strong mandate: to live as Mary teaches us, loving and serving as he does, to be ‘servants in the Servant’ everywhere.
A monument for the future
At the end of Mass, a monument dedicated to Don Bosco was inaugurated.
The conclusion of the centenary was therefore not simply a look back at the past, but the launch of a new challenge. As emphasised during the days of the visit, these hundred years are not a goal, but a springboard to renew the commitment to education, inclusion, and social responsibility, pillars on which the Salesians will continue to build the future of the San Cataldo community.
