THE HOSTEL OF THE SACRED HEART (Minutes of the Superior Chapter, September 12,

1884)
Don Bosco presiding. Present: Father Michael Rua, Father John Cagliero, Father Celestine Durando,
Father Joseph Lazzero, Father Anthony Sala, Father John Baptist Francesia, and Father Julius
Barberis. The meeting was opened by the customary prayers at 11 a.m.

1. Father Anthony Sala submitted the plans for the construction of the Sacred Heart Hostel in Rome.
There were three plans: by Vespignani, Cucco, and Vigna. He said that some deliberations should be
made urgently. First of all, he explained that the area is still enclosed along Via Marghera and Via
Magenta by a board fence for which a yearly tax of 550 lire was paid to the municipality. This fence
represented a cause of continuous annoyance, due to fines imposed on us, at the instigation of our
neighbor, Deputy Bonghi, who could not stand the sight of those boards. He, therefore, suggested that
the board fence be removed and replaced with a brick wall. The expense of this would be covered by
taxes for one year. The Chapter approved.

2. Father Anthony Sala suggested that a wing of the hostel be built facing Via San Lorenzo, which
would link the house with the corridor of the church at the corner. The hostel would only be two
stories high on this side of the building_ The main floor would consist in two parts: classrooms or
workshops, or porticos; the second floor would consist of two big dormitories. The design by the
contractor Cucco indicated that if the side of the building facing Via Porta San Lorenzo were formed
like an extended trapeze, it would adjust the inside playground into a perfect quadrangle with regular
porticos, and the rooms behind it would overlook the street diverging from, and nor parallel to, the
opposite side. The rooms would gradually become larger, but, naturally, they would be irregular in
shape. The regular shape of the rooms would be sacrificed in order to ensure the regularity of the
playground.

The design of the engineer Vigna was not concerned with the playground, but rather with the
regularity of the rooms that with special partition screens would fit a certain use and without the
partition screens would turn into beautiful halls. Some few square meters would be gained in the
interests of the recreation of the boys in the fairly narrow playground, and the cost would be reduced
to almost half.
Father Michael Rua was in favor of Cucco's design, Father Sala of Vigna's design. Don Bosco agreed
to Vigna's plan.
The Chapter approved the immediate construction of the wing overlooking Via San Lorenzo and
Vigna's plan. In principle, Vigna's plan was likewise adopted for the entire construction of the hostel,
which had two rooms five meters wide, divided along their length by a two-meter-wide corridor on
each floor. It was held that five meters was the minimum width allowed in a boarding school's
dormitories.

3. Father Anthony Sala submitted two plans for the facade of the wing overlooking Via San Lorenzo;
one by Cucco, which was simpler; the other by Vespignani, which was more elaborate.
Since this wing was right across the church facade, Father John Cagliero said that it would only be
attractive if this side of the hostel were more elaborate. Father Michael Rua supported this, saying that
the prestige of the house of God demanded as much.
The CHAPTER approved and adopted Cucco's plan, but chose Vespignani's designs for the two
entrance doors on both far ends.
4. Father Anthony Sala suggested that the wing overlooking Via San Lorenzo be built without
basements; this would prove to be a big savings. (a) No ground would have to be removed; and (b) the
foundations of the walls would not, as would otherwise be necessary, have to be built fourteen meters
below ground level, but would need to be supported by pillars. He pointed out, too, that since Via San
Lorenzo was a road of heavy traffic, the basements would only have continuous noise and, thus,
disturb the hostel.

Father Michael Rua added that there were drains and sewers in Via San Lorenzo; hence, we would
have to lay our own drains in that direction, which would mean that iron drainpipes would have to
pass through the basement. This would entail expenses, inconvenience and might even render the
basement altogether useless, at least as storerooms. Then, both the church and the two wings of the
building will have huge basements.
The Chapter decided not to build any basements beneath the wing overlooking Via Porta San
Lorenzo.
5. Father Anthony Sala then raised the question that had been left unsolved at the last meeting;
namely, as to whether Cucco should be entrusted with the building of the hostel under contract or only
under administration. He again stressed how much building material there was in the yard. Father
Anthony Sala wanted the church to be finished first, and then building on the hostel would start. In
this way, the two undertakings would not be confused. If Cucco were to build the church under their
direct administration and control while being given also a contract for the hostel, a fence would be
needed to separate the church material from that of the hostel, as well as two lime pits, etc. One would
have to use different masons for the one and the other structure; otherwise how could it be avoided
that the foreman should call on the masons working on one structure to give a hand to the masons
working on the other structure? Or how could the truck drivers be prevented from unloading into one
courtyard the material destined to the other courtyard? This was a very delicate matter and it involved
great expense.

The Chapter deliberated that Cucco should build the church, and be responsible for its administration,
together with the wing facing Via San Lorenzo. When this is done, a detailed inventory would be
taken of all the material remaining in the yard. A specific contract would then be made for the
remainder of the building, which would be done for a lump sum, and the material remaining would be
sold to Cucco for a stipulated price, to be deducted from the sum total of whatever debt the Salesians
would contract with him for payment of the work to be completed.
6. Don Bosco remarked that Count Colle in Toulon intended to contribute further to the cost of
building both church and hostel, but wished to lay the foundation stone of the hostel in person. This
meant that the ceremony would have to be scheduled for April.

The Chapter deliberated that the corner stone of the hostel could be laid in April under the foundations
of the wing overlooking Via San Lorenzo.
7. Don Bosco asked whether the engineer Vespignani knew that the other engineer Vigna and the
contractor Cucco had drawn plans for the hostel that he hoped to build.

Father Sala said that when Vespignani had come to inspect the hostel of St. John's, he had himself
declared that he was not the man for what we needed. This was equivalent to leaving us the freedom
to do as we wished.
Don Bosco remarked that one should go about doing things carefully because these people know how
to create pretexts. We already committed enough to him in regard to the church. Nevertheless, we did
not have any agreement with Vespignani about the hostel, and he could not really interfere. We must
find all possible means to hold on to our freedom in this matter.
Father Sala remarked that engineer Grazioli, who had come regularly to inspect the work at the Sacred
Heart, would be able to say something as soon as he saw work begun on the excavations.
Don Bosco replied that all responsibility could be put on him. They should say that it was Don Bosco
who had given orders. Once the church is finished, everything should be under our complete control.
Vespignani should not interfere with the matter at all.
Father Sala said that, in the beginning, Vespignani had hoped to do all the work, but it looked now as
though he had given up all his pretensions by what he had said.
The meeting was closed with the customary prayers at 12:20 p.m.
Rev. John Baptist Lemoyne, Secretary Chapter Hall, Valsalice, September 12, 1884 17: 42 - 44