Vatican City (Fides Service) - Giulia Salzano was born in Santa Maria Capua Vetere in the province of Caserta on 13 October 1846, the fourth of seven children and she was baptised on the same day. Her father, a Captain in the Lancers of King Ferdinand II of Naples, died when she was four. Her family was well off with sound morality and deeply linked to religious practices and traditions. Her childhood was happy until she lost four brothers and her father who left the family without economic means and uncertain future.
Not knowing how to provide for her family Giulia's mother her upbringing to the Sisters of Charity in the Royal Orphanage of Saint Nicola La Strada, where she remained until she was fifteen. She earned a teaching diploma and then taught in the local school at Casoria, in the Province of Naples, having moved there with her family in October 1865. Alongside her teaching, she had a great interest in the catechism, imparting the faith to children, young people and adults. She also encouraged devotion to the Virgin Mary. "Donna Giulietta", as she was known was an exceptional teacher and her home was always open to students and children. She helped to prepare children for First Holy Communion, organised catechism classes for young people, mothers, and workers, led the faithful in prayer, especially during the month of May.
Very soon a group of young women who shared Giulia's ideals gathered around her and with them she started the Opera Catechistsica. On 5 February 1894 the Pia Casa Catechistica was official inaugurated and it became the house of the small Community of Catechists whose aim was to spread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to animate catechesis.
Giulia encountered numerous difficulties but finally, in her constant concern to make known the teachings and life of Jesus through education and witness, she founded the Congregation of the Catechetical Sisters of the Sacred Heart in 1905 and she and her companions took the religious habit. On 20 September 1916 a church dedicated to the Sacred Heart, long awaited by Giulia was finally consecrated. It became a centre of religious culture and catechetical activity for all the social classes in Casoria and surrounding areas.
At the end of the First World War Mother Giulia undertook a new venture: to extend her work beyond Casoria. She sued to say: "While I have any life left in me, I will continue to teach the catechism. And then, I assure you, I would be very happy to die teaching the catechism". She died on 17 May 1929.
Following her example her spiritual daughters carry the message of the Gospel wherever Divine Providence calls. Today there are about 200 in Italy and also abroad, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Brazil Peru, Canada.
Giulia Salzano is the only foundress who focuses attention on catechesis. This original charisma was the forerunner of methods and ways proposed today by the Magisterium. The Gospel must be given and taught to everyone. Since catechises is part of the Church's mission, Mother Giulia has been rightly called "a prophet of the new Evangelisation". SL (Fides Service 24/4/2003 EM lines 46 Words: 621)