Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Via Sandro Sandri, a street in Casal Bruciato, is one of the many locations on Rome’s outskirts where the social unease, pain and suffering, the escape from everything, the violence, the crime, and many times drugs and personal and familiar instability is sadly felt. However, since 1965, this street has been home to the ELIS School, that for over forty years has offered young people the possibility of building a stable future through a four-part method: Education, Work, Training, and Sports.
The stories of twelve boys that discovered the ELIS School - an island of happiness in the midst of their surroundings - and its professors, are told in the work, “I ragazzi di via Sandri” (“The boys of Sandri Street”), published by Ares and written by the school’s Director of Professional Formation, Pierluigi Bartolomei, with a Preface from Andrea Pamparana (Vice-Director of Tg5) and Hon. Giuseppe Cossiga. The book was recently presented in Rome in the elegant setting of the Fausto Maria Franchi goldsmith bottega.
The many impressive and moving stories which are the fruit of a continuous dialogue of the Director, the narrating voice of the book, show how many Italian and foreign boys emerge from “difficult” situations, thanks to the care and teachings of school teachers, and later with responsibility and great zeal become life’s heroes, re-constructing not only personal situations in crisis for years (like the boy that began speaking with his father again after a long period of silence and distress between them) , but also becoming responsible members of society and professional workers appreciated in their workplace. It is no wonder that 95% of ELIS graduates find employment within one year of graduation and that many of them hold important positions in large multi-national companies.
The story of ELIS begins with a petition from Pope John XXIII, who entrusted the project to Saint Josemaria Escriva, founder of Opus Dei, who was present in the center’s inauguration in 1965, blessed by Pope Paul VI. That same year, the ELIS center was recognized by the President of Italy. The role of the educator as intellectual and expert, capable of a total dedication that makes him an example for the boys, is one of the “miracles” of ELIS, of which Pierluigi Bartolomei is most proud. In fact, ELIS is a place with an extremely high level of personal commitment.
The profound Christian values, fruit of Opus Dei’s dedication in the project, are the secret to the center’s success and to that of its students, according to Andrea Pampara. They are principles that are visible in the utmost respect with which the students handle material objects and the persons with whom they work, in the care with which they complete the work entrusted to them, in their ability to work in team and even reach authentic holiness through their work, a fundamental element of Saint Josemaria’s pedagogy. ELIS is currently a center for professional formation with great prestige, offering its educational method on various levels (specialized workers, goldsmiths, jewelers, as well as specialized training for graduates). (PC) (Agenzia Fides 26/5/2008; righe 40, parole 509)
