La Fondazione La Vincenziana celebrates ninety years of commitment to the education and care of young people in Milan, an anniversary that underlines the continuity and importance of its educational and spiritual mission. Founded on 11 May 1934 by Blessed Cardinal Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster, La Vincenziana was established with the aim of morally and spiritually supporting students and workers arriving in Milan in search of opportunities, offering them accommodation and guidance in the crucial moments of their personal growth.
Today, even in a radically changed social and economic context, the Foundation continues to pursue its original twofold purpose: to create welcoming spaces for young people from different regions of Italy and the world, and to accompany them during their precious years of education, promoting an experience of community life that integrates human and Christian values. The three colleges currently operating in Milan – the San Paolo, the San Filippo Neri and the Bertoni University House – together with the residence at the parish of Santa Maria del Rosario, host around 370 university students, offering them not only a place to live, but also an environment to share and grow.
One of the distinctive aspects of the Vincentian is inclusiveness. Although the Foundation is Christian-inspired, reception is not limited only to those who share the Catholic faith. Student selection is based on an orientation interview, but does not exclude anyone on religious grounds. The importance of this inclusive environment is reflected in the daily life of the boarding schools, where coexistence and animation arise spontaneously among the students, creating bonds that often last a lifetime.
At a time when the cost of living in Milan is among the highest in the world, La Vincenziana is committed to keeping the cost of accommodation affordable, while wishing to offer lower fees in the future. Currently, fees vary between 600 and 900 euros per month, depending on the type of room, a cost that includes all expenses except food, which is self-managed by the students.
The ninetieth anniversary of the Foundation is not only a temporal milestone, but an occasion for the Ambrosian Church, represented by Moderator Curiae Monsignor Carlo Azzimonti, to express gratitude and recognition to those who, over the years, have contributed to keeping the Vincentian educational mission alive. The future of the Foundation looks forward in continuity with its history, with the aim of continuing to offer a quality service, welcoming and inclusive, for the youth of today and tomorrow.
