For many of those present, it was a revelation to discover that “Cottolengo,” the name by which the “Little House of Divine Providence” is usually known, is actually the surname of its founder: Saint Giuseppe Benedetto Cottolengo,
a priest who in 1828 founded a shelter for the poor where those without access to hospitals were treated. After four years and many patients assisted, the “Little House of Divine Providence” was born in Turin, which continues to care for the most vulnerable in many ways today. In the presentation video shown at the beginning of the talk by Brother Luca Bianchini and Father Carmine Arice, we were able to appreciate the diverse services implemented by this institution, from education to assistance for various categories of vulnerable people. However, it is not merely a philanthropic institution; the ultimate goal of the religious and lay people working in various capacities at the “Little House” is pastoral: to act so that those who have had no reason to believe in Divine benevolence find someone to care for them, embodying the hands of God so that they may praise Him.
Today, the “Little House” operates not only in Turin, the institution’s historic headquarters, but also in various parts of the world, such as India, Florida, Switzerland, Ecuador, and several African nations, including Tanzania. There, in collaboration with our Club, a school for approximately 420 children will be created, featuring a computer laboratory open to everyone—both disabled and non-disabled individuals simultaneously—in a country where such an idea represents a cultural challenge that will be overcome, not without effort.
