To the Mayor of Turin, Felice Rignon

E III, 1669

He withdraws all commitments for the construction of the church of S. Secondo, given the impossibility of obtaining space and premises for an oratory.

St Ignatius-Lanzo, August 1872

Dear Mr Mayor,

I have received the letter and the minutes of the Municipal Council regarding the church of S. Secondo, and I thank you for the courtesy you have shown me.

From this report, I realise that I did not fully understand the proposal to combine the project for an oratory for children with that of a parish church for adults.

I believed that the transfer of the land, limited solely to compliance with common building regulations, did not entail any obligation other than the safety and external regularity of the building.

My belief was confirmed when, after presenting the main changes to the original design, the town council sent people to mark out the site of the fence, connected drinking water and gas for the convenience of the workers and passers-by, and allowed the excavation work to be almost completed. Now that things have changed substantially, and the decision taken by the Council makes it impossible to find premises for poor children, my aim, which has always been to build an oratory and a recreation area for children, so that there would also be a parish church for adults, remains frustrated.

You inform me that the Architectural Standards Regulations stipulate that the decisions of the Council may be appealed to the Municipal Council; if the Council had decided to refer our request back to you, I would have been in full agreement; nor would I have appeared as an opponent of the aforementioned decision. But making this appeal myself makes it clear that I am in conflict and that I want to prevail over this authority.

This authority, which I have not only always respected, but to which I have always turned for guidance and advice, and with which I intend to remain in the most submissive and respectful obedience, at any cost.

In this state of affairs, unable to achieve my main goal, I have no choice but to give up the venture I have long cherished, and which is, unfortunately, sorely needed.

I only ask you to please notify the head of the cleaning office not to proceed to the urban court for the levelling of the excavations and for the clearance of the materials gathered there. As soon as the season allows, I will take the utmost care to ensure that the surface of that block is restored to its original condition.

I regret the circular sent to the inhabitants of the future parish, which was considered certain; I regret having to give up the concessions granted by the railway company for the transport of materials, even more than the serious expenses I have had to incur at this critical time.

I make no demands; I merely entrust myself to your protection so that, as mayor, you may see if you can at least alleviate the damage that my desire for the public good has caused me.

I express my deepest gratitude to you as I have the honour of professing myself

Your Excellency’s

most humble servant

Fr John Bosco