EUROPE/RUSSIA - 30th anniversary of the Franciscan school in Novosibirsk

Novosibirsk (Agenzia Fides) - A "personal" education, which involves attention and love for each child: this is what the Catholic Franciscan school "Christmas of the Lord" in Novosibirsk aims to be, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2024. Father Corrado Trabucchi OFM, director of the school since the beginning, clearly explains the objective for which the school was founded: "To make a selfish heart a heart that has compassion".

Founded shortly after the end of the USSR, in a context in which the Catholic presence was being reconstituted on new social and legislative bases, the Franciscan institute presents an educational offer aimed at the integral development of children, in their intellectual, spiritual and relational dimensions. It welcomes not only children from Christian families (mainly Orthodox), but also from Muslim families.

The school, which is set up as a non-state organization accredited by the Russian Federation, offers a four-year primary education cycle and, in the case of preschool education, a five-year cycle. It is currently attended by 57 children and has four teachers. In addition to the classical subjects taught in Russia, students benefit from music and singing lessons, one hour of religion per week and a short hour of daily community prayer. The religion program allows children to approach the Bible, iconography, the lives of the saints - especially those dear to the Russian tradition, such as St. Sergius of Radonezh and St. Nicholas - and the names of God in the Quran.

For the school's teachers, it is particularly important not to leave children from disadvantaged families on the sidelines of the learning and growth process. In cooperation with the two Catholic parishes of Novosibirsk, the teachers strive not to leave these students with the elements necessary for them to face primary education with confidence. "This is why we offer three meal breaks a day (breakfast, lunch and snack) and we have a gym where they can exercise, even during the harsh Siberian winters, when it is not possible to do it outside.

The preparation of plays and festive moments of the school also has a strong educational value: thanks to the support of the teachers, any diction problems are often corrected during the preparation of the plays.

"Thirty years have passed since the first school cycle in 1994", Father Corrado explains to Fides, "and our former students of that time now have families and want to send their children to our school, precisely because of the wonderful experience they had there as children. They often come back to visit us during the holidays and are, in a way, the "messengers" of our school. And among our former students, who today number over 300, we already have the first deaths whom we remember in prayer: Anna, who died in a car accident, and Nikita, who died at the front."
The school enjoys an excellent reputation in the city and many people admire its educational model. "In all these years," concludes Father Corrado, "the school has been supported by many benefactors, to whom we address our grateful remembrance. We are happy to have been able to sow the good seed for 30 years and we thank the Lord and all our friends, hoping that we can continue."

There are currently three Friars Minor (OFM) in Novosibirsk who, together with the other Friars Minor of St. Petersburg, are part of the St. Francis Foundation for Russia. (CD) (Agenzia Fides, 7/12/2024)

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