Don Bosco's dream expands in Battersea

Photo Credit: Cristiana Ferrauti 

“It is good for us to be here,”

said the Very Rev Martin Coyle SDB, Salesian Provincial at the Official Opening of Saint John Bosco’s College new buildings.

The Formal Ceremony with the Blessing of the new school took place in Battersea on the 13^th November.

Morning Mass

Students and staff gathered together at the now closer Sacred Heart Battersea for the morning Mass.

Don Bosco had in mind 4 necessary pillars for a place built for the youth:

Church, School, Playground, and Home.

And the wish is indeed that the new school will be a combination of these elements, not only for their physical presence, but as spaces for the soul.

Photo Credit: Cristiana Ferrauti

Formal Opening Ceremony

The authorities and other guests joined the community in the afternoon, at the new school in Parkham Street.

Jane Ellison - Member of Parliament for Battersea -, Cllr Ravi Govindia – Leader of Wandsworth Council -, and the Most Rev Peter Smith – Archbischop of Southwark – were among the guests on the stage.

The Very Rev Martin Coyle SDB remembered Don Bosco’s will to expand the loving educative system to British language countries. 

“He was indeed a real visionary!”

continued the Salesian Provincial, looking, as all we do, at the growing relevance Britain has come to within Europe and the world, both for the English language and culture.

What do new buildings mean?

New spaces,

new instruments,

more advanced methods of studying.

Key teachers are essential, as Jane Ellison - MP for Battersea - reminded to the audience, but new facilities, with a renovated proximity to the other centres of the Salesian community in London – the Church, first of all - will allow the youth to really engage with the subject of study.

It means as well to provide those less fortunate with the necessary tools, in order not to be deprived of education.

"Love what the young love”

was the encouragement by the Saint of Turin.

To work with the new generations, we need to begin from the foundations, where the young people live most of their time and learn the practical, social, and religious basics.

The complete article was first published with RuaLink - 1st December 2015.

It also appeared on ANS.