1953 AUL Key laystaff in touch with Salesian roots
austraLasia #1953

Australian Salesian school lay staff in direct touch with Salesian roots

TURIN: 4th October -- In a major initiative covering nine Salesian schools located throughout the Australian continent, a group of twenty key lay staff, most principals or deputy principals, are visiting Salesian roots in France and Italy.  The venture, led by Fr Bernard Graham SDB, principal of Engadine College (St John Bosco), has been organised by the Salesian Principals Association of Australia (SPAA) and is billed as a pilgrimage to Salesian Holy Places.
    The group first met together in Annecy where they spent two days under the spell of St Francis de Sales.  They then went on to Turin where they are currently located.  On Friday 5th October they visit Chieri, Colle Don Bosco, Capriglio, Mondonio, then Valdocco and surrounds on Saturday.  Later in the following week their intention is to visit Rome and again focus on Salesian sites of importance such as Sacro Cuore, San Callistus, the UPS and, of course Salesian Headquarters at The Pisana!  For a number of these visits in Piedmont and Rome they are or will be accompanied by a Salesian from Australia who knows both the sites and the language.
    Salesian schools in Australia are widely recognised both by Church and State as amongst the finest in the land and are much sought after by ordinary people.  They have always maintained their lower to middle class appeal and accept the needy student by preference.  The schools range from city to rural location, and include schools which have no Salesians teaching or resident in the area (in one instance) and schools which have a Salesian principal with a lay deputy, which is the case for approximately half of the schools involved.  The lay Director of Sydney's Boys Town, a flagship of Salesian outreach to the most-at-risk youth in Australian society, is also amongst the group.

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