The Knights of Columbus Youth Centers in

An 80th Anniversary History

n March 29, 1882, Father Michael J. McGivney announced to the officers and members of the new fraternal order he founded that the Connecticut General Assembly had officially chartered the new society. Shortly Othereafter the founder wrote to the pastors of all parishes in Connecticut encouraging them to establish a Knights of Columbus Council for the Catholic men under their care. As shepherd of the new organization’s development, Father McGivney must have been gratified to know that, by June 1889, seven years after the founding, more than 5,000 members were enrolled in 51 councils. By 1905 the Order had grown at such a rapid pace that it could be found in every state of the Union, in Canada, in Mexico and in the Philippines.

Evidence of the impact the Order could have as it devel- oped was given in 1904 when the Order presented to The Catholic University of America a check for more than $50,000. The Order had been approached to raise this significant amount of money so that the University could establish a chair in Church History to prepare well educated defenders of the faith at a time when the Catholic was subject to bigotry and attacks on its beliefs.

Fortified by its founding principles of unity and charity, to which fraternity and patriotism were later added, the Order entered the World War I era by enthusiastically answering the call to provide spiritual, material and recreational support to the armed forces serving at home and abroad. Under the ban- ner “Everybody Welcome – Everything Free,” centers were established in major staging areas in the United States, and also at disembarkation points abroad, so that the troops would have

Members of the Third Division in Audernach, , outside the Knights of Columbus clubhouse the comfort of knowing that their sacrifice of service was both supported and appreciated. As the allied armies moved across the borders of Germany and Belgium, the recreation centers expanded accordingly. With many soldiers passing through Great Britain, operations were enlarged there as well as in Ireland. However, France remained the major zone of opera- tions, with facilities in most large cities. Subsequently centers were opened in Rome, and in Venice and Spoleto in .

2. Supreme Knight Flaherty and Knights in Strasbourg, France

As a result of the war work in France, a warm relation- ship between that country and the Order was firmly estab- lished. It was thus that, in the aftermath of the war, in 1920, a delegation of 235 Knights, led by Supreme Knight James Flaherty traveled to France visiting sites where Knights of Columbus camp sites had been established, and accepting the gratitude of the French people for all of the assistance provid- ed. It was only natural that following their visits throughout France, the pilgrims would journey to Rome. On August 28, 1920, the Knights were received in private audience in the Consistory Hall by His Holiness Benedict XV.

3. His Holiness Benedict XV receives the Knights of Columbus delegation in 1920.

The Holy Father welcomed the Knights with sentiments of “sweet comfort and good hope.” He praised them for their support of The Catholic University of America; their assistance to the Bishops; and their charitable work during the war. Finally, perhaps aware of Father McGivney’s concern for the spiritual and moral welfare of youths, the pope asked the Knights to go forward and expand their work to Rome in order to help counter attacks on their faith being faced by many young people. He explained:

“An old principle teaches that good spreads itself, and it is not surprising therefore, that, while still doing so much fruit- ful work in their beloved country, the Knights of Columbus have thought of extending their action to Italy, too, and in a spe- cial manner to this city of Rome, dear above all cities to Our hearts. 4. “We welcome you, Knights of Columbus to the Holy City. For indeed here, under Our very eyes, a shameful propa- ganda is trying to rob Our children nearest to Us of the most precious heritage left them by their forefathers, the Catholic faith. There is a very network of endeavor to that shameful end. They are trying to attract our young men who are so inclined to the pleasure of sport into associations which, while they give facilities for satisfying that inclination, tend to make insidious attacks in the hearts of the young men on the sacred treasure of Catholic principles. They relieve material distress and at the same moment steal a patrimony of inestimable value, the patri- mony of the faith.

“You, noble Knights of Columbus, are not ignorant of the work of propaganda of which We speak, and We glory in the hope that in conformity with the aims of your Association, you will set your good propaganda here in Rome too against the wicked propaganda, which to Our sorrow We see so widely spread in this dear city. There is another field of competition before you, May the struggle bring you as much merit as it brings Us hope.”

At the October Board meeting in 1920 the Holy Father’s plea was discussed, and Flaherty reinforced the Holy Father’s wish that the Knights take up this work. Past Supreme Knight Edward L. Hearn, serving as the Order’s post war Commissioner, was delegated to assess what need- ed to be done, and how best to go about it. Also discussed was the matter of funding the pro- posed work. Pope Benedict XV

5. The form the work was to take was the establishment of playgrounds for the benefit of the youth in Rome. In keeping with the recent tradition of aid to the servicemen, the children would be welcome at the Knights of Columbus facilities with- out charge. Arrangements for the use of the fields would be made through Rome’s parishes.

In 1922 Pope Benedict XV was succeeded by Pius XI, who expressed enthusiastic approval of the new work. At an audience on May 14, 1922, His Holiness further endorsed the project by donating the site for St. Peter’s Oratory where, he said, “I can see for myself from my study win- dow what progress they are making here in the heart of Rome.” He said the Knights of Columbus presence was Pope Pius XI “very fitting.... for it is no less important than any other level of relief work.”

A letter from Supreme Secretary William J. McGinley to Hearn dated June 29, 1922, best describes the procedures that were followed in establishing the Knights of Columbus Italian Welfare Fund, the entity that supports the program down to this day:

“…the Supreme Council by unanimous vote authorized the Board of Directors to raise an Endowment Fund of One Million Dollars by levying an assessment of twenty-five cents semi-annually upon the membership or the Order until the mil- lion dollars was raised.”

6. Architect Enrico P. Galeazzi explains plans on-site to Past Supreme Knight Edward L. Hearn, Msgr. Borgongini-Duca and Msgr. Caccia Dominioni

With the fund approved, Hearn opened a Knights of Columbus Rome office at Via delle Muratte, 25 in April 1922. In the July Columbia of 1922 Hearn reported on an audience with Pius XI. He informed His Holiness that, besides serving as head- quarters for the welfare activities, the office would offer recep- tion facilities and guides for English-speaking pilgrims, especial- ly the scores of American prelates and lay persons who would visit Rome for the great Eucharistic Congress during the last week of May.

7. Between 1922 and 1927, during Supreme Knight Flaherty’s term of office, the Knights of Columbus opened five athletic centers in Rome under the careful guidance of architect and engineer, later Count, Enrico Pietro Galeazzi, who also assisted in the com- plex legal negotiations for the purchase or lease and opera- tions of the playgrounds.

Count Enrico Pietro Galeazzi (1930’s photo) Count Galeazzi designed each athletic center in harmo- ny with the natural environment and the architectural style of the neighborhood within which it was located, giving each a unique character. Every facility had a club house with shower, gymnastic facilities and soccer fields. Some had basketball, vol- leyball courts and tennis courts as well. Qualified instructors led the children in their games. Senior citizens were also wel- come to use the bocce courts.

In 1923, St. Peter’s Oratory, named by Pius XI himself, was the first facility to begin its activities. It was constructed on a historical site, the center of the and, there- fore, the place where many early Christians suffered martyrdom for the faith.

To make room for the new structures, some buildings dating back to the time of Pope Innocent VIII were demolished, among which was a foundry that had been in use for centuries. The coat of arms of Pope Innocent VIII, who was reigning when Christopher Columbus discovered America, was found and pre-

8. Construction begins served. This relic was saved to be used later as an adornment. Also found there was the wooden model of the world- renowned statue of St. Peter venerated in St. Peter’s Basilica. The refurbished statue is displayed today in the Knights of Columbus Museum in New Haven.

Among the buildings saved was the Church of San Salvatore in Ossibus, dating back to 750 A.D. The church – an historical and artistic monument – was completely restored by the Knights of Columbus and used as the chapel for the boys’ wing of the new Oratory

St. Peter’s was an oratory in the true sense in that it pro- vided, beyond sports, a program of educational, catechetical and therefore also evangelical formation. Thus it looked to the evan-

9. gelization of youth, much as did Father McGivney’s efforts for the young people of New Haven.

The new Oratory consisted of a two-story building, 600 feet in length, with one wing for girls, the other for boys. Each of the wings had its own chapel and its own facilities for outdoor activi- ties. In the center of the building, a 1,000-seat theater was estab- lished.

Exterior and interior views of San Salvatore in Ossibus

10. 11. The gymnasium was built as a separate building and was fully supplied with modern sports and exercise equipment. Soon after, the Knights of Columbus purchased two adjoining areas in order to enlarge the girls’ section of the Oratory. These areas included small, old houses and two narrow streets. After demolishing the houses, the Knights erected a new building for the girls of the Oratory. St. Peter’s Oratory was dedicated on April 9, 1924 with prelates from the United States traveling to Rome for the occasion..

Activities for boys and girls

The Holy Father later received the 10 Cardinals who took part in the dedication ceremony, including Cardinals George Mundelein of Chicago and Patrick Hayes of New York, who christened two bells during the blessing of the field. One was to be placed in the Church of St. Salvatore, and the other in the Oratory. The Oratory bell is now displayed in the Knights of Columbus Museum.

12. Entrance to St. Peter’s Oratory A number of priests assigned to the “adopted” St. Peter’s Oratory as a kind of sui generis parish. They gave their free time to working with the children. Among these, three should be mentioned:

Monsignor Francesco Borgongini-Duca worked in the Secretariat of State and, owing to his interest in the Oratory’s programs, was An opening and stairs were built to named by Pope Pius XI as its allow Pope Pius XI to attend the first president. He continued Oratory’s dedication this association even after he 13. was named apostolic to Italy, and after becoming a Cardinal following World War II. He was buried in the chapel of St. Peter’s Oratory and, in 1955 under Supreme Knight Luke E. Hart, the Order contributed to the erection of a sepulchal mon- ument as a memorial to him.

Saint Peter’s Oratory

14. Monsignor Alfredo Ottaviani joined with Monsignor Borgongini-Duca in teaching catechism to the youngsters - - and their parents - - by means of skits in which they took the lead- ing roles. He eventually became a prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and also was creat- ed a cardinal.

The third was the of New York, Francis Cardinal Spellman, who early on collaborated with Count Galeazzi in the development of the Oratory. They became close friends, and the two formed a special relationship with Eugene Cardinal Pacelli, Secretary of State and the future Pius XII.

Pope Pius XI ordered a special medal to be designed and coined as a tribute to commemorate the establishment of the Oratory. Its inscription is translated: “The Knights of Columbus at their own expense, founded this Oratory of St. Peter so that they may fulfill the wishes of Pius XI, P.M., for the Christian instruction of Roman youth.”

15. His Holiness Pope John XXIII visits the Oratory on May 10, 1959, the first Pope to visit one of the youth centers.

16. The Pius XI Playground was dedi- cated and blessed by Pietro Cardinal Gasparri, Secretary of State, in May 1926. It is one of the largest and most beautiful fields in Rome, boasting 18 acres on the Gelsomino Hill located between the and the Vatican. As the highest elevation in the Eternal City, it offers a spectacular view of the city.

Count Galeazzi, Hearn and a companion inspect the site for the Pius XI field

17. Without machines or trucks, workers used hand tools to level the playground’s terrain.

18. Scenes of the dedication of Pius XI youth center by Cardinal Gasparri

19. Site of the original St. Peter’s Oratory Forty years later, this playground was chosen to become the new location for St. Peter’s Oratory. In another expression of loyalty to the , the Knights of Columbus donated the original St. Peter’s Oratory location to allow for the construc- tion of a new and much larger Audience Hall in 1965. This ful- filled the desire of Pope Paul VI for a new facility to receive the ever increasing numbers of pilgrims.

Site of the new Pope Paul VI Audience Hall, 1965

20. Nevertheless, the Holy Father wanted the Oratory’s activities to continue. Therefore, the Oratory was rebuilt, under the care of the Holy See, on the premises of the Knights of Columbus Gelsomino Hill Playground. On June 29, 1968, the New St. Peter’s Oratory was inaugurated and blessed by His Holiness Pope Paul VI.

Aerial view of the new Oratory

21. Pope Paul VI blesses the new St. Peter’s Oratory

22. All that remains of the original St. Peter’s Oratory is the Church of San Salvatore in Ossibus where the emblem of the Knights of Columbus was prominently placed in two of the stained-glass windows – the only non-ecclesiastical coat-of-arms displayed within State.

The Order’s emblem in stained glass at San Salvatore in Ossibus

23. The Benedict XV Playground, dedicated to the Pope who had first requested the playground project, opened in 1926 in one of the most densely populated districts of Rome – San Lorenzo. His Eminence Vincenzo Cardinal Vannutelli, Dean of the Sacred College, dedicated and blessed the center. The area was bombed by the Allied forces during World War II. Ironically, the Knights of Columbus facility was damaged during these bombings, and bomb fragments are now on display in New Haven at the Order’s museum.

Cardinal Vannutelli blesses the Benedict XV Playground, and the young people who will use it

24. Youngsters participate in dedication-day exhibitions on the field

25. During its first year of activity, the Benedict XV facility in the San Lorenzo district set an attendance record in excess of 100,000. It has been considered one of the most successful pro- jects of its kind in one of the most needy neighborhoods of Rome. According to municipal authorities, the playground has directly and indirectly improved conditions in the district.

The Tiber River Playground, first named “Polverini” from the section of Rome where it was located, began operations in 1927 on government-owned land on the banks of the Tiber less than a mile from the city’s center. It is the only playground not developed on Knights of Columbus property. Because the char- itable work of the Knights of Columbus was already well known to the Italian Government, the Order was able to secure an agreement to lease the site. His Eminence Basilio Cardinal Pompilj, Vicar of Rome, dedicated and blessed this playground in May 1927.

Cardinal Pompilj blesses the first Tiber River playground, with views of the day’s activities (opposite page)

26. 27. In 1934 the Tiber River Playground was relocated to a new site. It was dedicated and blessed by His Eminence Eugene Cardinal Pacelli, Secretary of State, on May 27, 1934. On October 24, 1944, it was renamed “Pastor Angelicus,” in honor of Pope Pius XI. Historically, his playground was very popular for its swimming and rowing facilities.

The Valle Giulia Playground was also officially blessed by Cardinal Pompilj, in May 1927. Situated in the vicinity of the largest and most famous park in Rome, the Villa Borghese, its convenient location enables it to serve a large number of edu- cational institutions.

The field at Valle Giulia

In 1996, to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the birth of Count Galeazzi, called home to God on September 25, 1986, the Valle Giulia Playground was renamed in his honor. His lifetime of dedication and loyalty to the Knights of Columbus,

28. first as architect, later as representative of the Order in Rome for 66 years, and also its liaison with the Holy See, was thus rec- ognized with gratitude.

Count Galeazzi, right, escorts, fromt the left, Supreme Advocate Luke E. Hart, Supreme Chaplain Monsignor Leo M. Finn, and Suipreme Knight John E. Swift on a visit to San Eugenio. To mark the 25th anniversary in 1942 of Pope Pius XII’s epis- copacy, the decision was reached to build and dedicate a new parish church in honor of the Pope’s name saint, San Eugenio. The Knights of Columbus offered a section of the Valle Giulia playground upon which the new church was to be built.

29. The Basilica of San Engenio, adjacent to the Count Galeazzi field

During the Holy Year 1950, after a Special Audience with Pope Pius XII, Supreme Knight John E. Swift instituted a fund for the purchase and construction of the last playground in Rome. The district of Primavalle, a newly populated area, was chosen for the site. This playground was named Pius XII in honor of Pope Eugenio Pacelli and dedicated and blessed by His Eminence Francis Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York, on June 7, 1952.

As was the case with the earlier athletic facilities, the realization of the Primavalle Playground was entrusted to Count Galeazzi. At that time he was completing another project, the Pontifical North American College. In 1947, construction of the College had begun in collaboration with the Archdiocese of

30. New York. In 1982, the Order established the Count Enrico Galeazzi Fund for the Pontifical North American College. Earnings on its now $2 million corpus will benefit the College and its students in perpetuity.

The North American College, Rome, designed by Count Enrico P. Galeazzi

The Order’s playgrounds have operated throughout the last 80 years steadily, but not always smoothly due to the events of history. At one point, in 1931, the Italian government want- ed to place all youth programs under its own control. The Order’s recreation centers were outlawed. The facilities were closed and the staffs dismissed. Count Galeazzi persuaded the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue a statement saying that the Knights was a charitable organization and its program in Rome should be allowed to continue. After four months of closure, Count Galeazzi reported that “an agreement was reached between the government and the Church, and work was resumed.”

31. Thus the youth centers re-opened and remained open during the Second World War. Signs at the sites, however, had to be changed fromEnglish to Italian, from Knights of Columbus to Cavalieri di Colombo.

The facilities have served and continue to serve parish- es and schools, institutes for the disabled, hospitals, rehabilita- tion centers, needy children, the Vatican employees and semi- narians. Among the numerous institutes that use these centers today for their sports activities are: ANAFIM, institute for the disabled; the local Aziende Sanitarie and Apostolato della Preghiera, institutes for persons with mental illness; San Giuseppe Cottolengo, a rehabilitation hospital; Opera S. Pio X for needy children; San Alfonso and Agostiniani Scalzi, seminari- ans; students of the Pontifical Lateran University; and Vatican City State employees.

Eighty years have passed since the Knights of Columbus began activities at St. Peter’s Oratory. Since that time, the com- mitment of the Knights of Columbus to the Successor of Peter and to the Holy See has grown stronger. What began with a ver- bal promise has grown to a large variety of projects as the pas- toral concern and mission of evangelization of the Church have evolved. However, one thing has remained ever constant – the steadfast devotion of the Knights of Columbus to be of service.

32.