Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Piacenza (Fides Service) - As a conclusion to celebrations for the centenary of the death of Blessed Giovanni Battista Scalabrini (1839-1905), a History Convention on The Ecclesiology of Scalabrini is being held in Piacenza at the Mother House of the Scalabriniani Missionaries. The convention started in the evening of Wednesday 9 November with interventions by Scalabrinian Vicar General Fr Gaetano Parolin, Piacenza’s assessor for social policies Leonardo Mazzoli and the Bishop of Piacenza Luciano Monari. During the morning of 10 November in the presence of about 120 participants, including history experts and researchers, the theme for reflection was: “The ecclesiology and spirituality of Scalabrini in the historical-theological context of late 19th century” taking into consideration the ecclesial contexts in three very distant geographical areas: Europe, Brazil and the United States, a sign that Blessed Scalabrini’s concern for emigrants led him inevitably to extend his horizon to different continents.
Prof. Giacomo Canobbio Docent of systemic theology at the of the Northern Italy Theology Faculty and Brescia Seminary outlined the picture of the historical-theological context of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Europe in which to set the thought and work of Blessed Scalabrini. Prof. José Oscar Beozzo, Docent of Church History at the Catholic University of Sao Paulo, described the profound transformation which between 1850 and the first decades of the 20th century characterised Brazil under the social, political, cultural and religious profile. In particular the abolition of slavery opened the way for replacing slaves with immigrants from other geographical areas: four million people from Europe, the Middle and Fear East. The first missionaries sent by Blessed Scalabrini started pastoral care among Italian immigrants in southern Brazil in coffee plantations and city’s working class districts.
Another geographical area of immigration was the United States which in the second half of the 19th century saw a flow of nationalities mainly Catholics. The third speaker, Prof. Edward Stibili of the history faculty, Calumet College of St. Joseph in Whiting, Indiana USA, illustrated the position of north American hierarchy with regard to Italian immigrants, considered a “problem” because apparently indifferent to religion and an easy prey for protestant proselytising. Although the question of distance from the faith was real there was no mass conversion of Italians to Protestantism. Nevertheless with the collaboration of Italian bishops and religious congregations schools, parishes and social centres were opened to meet the spiritual and material needs of the Italians: also in this context a fundamental part was played by Blessed Scalabrini with his missionaries. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 11/11/2005; righe 33; parole 445)
