(ANS – Turin) – With simplicity and intensity, the commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the founding of the Faculty of Theology of the Pontifical Salesian University took place on Saturday 10th November. A Conference that mentioned, in particular, the Venerable Fr Giuseppe Quadrio, Professor of Dogmatic Theology and also the Dean in the years 1954-1959.

The Conference, held at the first and historic seat in via Caboto in Turin, was attended by a large and qualified presence, inter alia, in addition to religious and academic authorities and a large number of Salesians and students, all the Deans of Theological student halls of the Congregation, gathering in Turin for a meeting sponsored by the Department of Formation.

To open the programme, the message from the Rector Major was read, urging the Faculty of Theology to "continue to provide a quality service, in close collaboration with other Faculties, especially to the new spiritual and pastoral needs of young people and the urgent needs of the formation of vocations"; teachers to be inspired by the extraordinary figure of Fr Quadrio and the student candidates to the priesthood to draw on the wealth of his writings.

The Dean of the Faculty of Theology, Fr Antonio Castellano, retraced the history of the Faculty, highlighting the most significant stages of these 75 years and the most prestigious figures of faculty teachers and students who have worked in it.

He was followed by the presentation of the book, "Don Giuseppe Quadrio, theologian and witness", edited by Prof. Fr Antonio Escudero. Besides the curator, there were Profs. Fr Roberto Carelli and Fr Ferdinando Bahati. The volume, published by LAS, investigates the figure of the Venerable not only in terms of the quality of his spiritual experience, but also from the side of his theological teaching.

At the culmination of the Conference, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican Secretary of State, past-pupil of the Faculty of Theology and the Institute in Turin, provided a report which placed emphasis on the spiritual features of Fr Quadrio, stating inter alia: "the face of Fr Quadrio was a reflection of his talent-rich spirit of humanity and filled with gifts of grace. In this way he revealed the Spirit weaving. His face was open, smiling, always welcoming. He was jovial and wise at the same time. He was humble and gentlemanly, never seemed flustered even when living his own intimate drama. He imparted peace and was stimulated to radiate it. Respectful and always ready to listen to anyone who stopped him in order to make him any request".

At the end of the morning, in the church of the Institute of Turin, Crocetta, the same Cardinal Bertone, blessed the new building which houses the remains of the Venerable. The new location will help this figure of the master of the spirit to be more widely known by the people of God, with the hope that soon it may be possible to venerate him as Blessed.

Published 12/11/2012