Chiesa di Maria Ausiliatrice

The Church of Maria Ausiliatrice is the religious centre of Chioggia's Salesian complex, also known as Casa San Giusto. Its history is closely connected with the Salesian oratory established in the city at the end of the nineteenth century.

Why it matters

The oratory began in 1899, serving the city's young people. The church later became a parish in its own right, formally erected on 11 December 1966. Its establishment marked a modern chapter in Chioggia's ecclesiastical history and gave the Salesian community a distinct place in the city's parish structure.

What to notice

The dedication to Mary Help of Christians reflects the devotional tradition associated with Don Bosco and the Salesian order. The church forms part of a wider religious and educational complex rather than standing as an isolated monument. Its setting expresses the close relationship between worship, education and community life in the Salesian tradition.

Context and history

The Salesians' presence in Chioggia developed around the San Giusto institute, established through the bequest of local priest Don Giusto Furlan. In 1962, discussions began about creating a separate parish. On 11 December 1966, the church became a parish during the investiture of its first pastor, Don Angelo Muraro. A fiftieth-anniversary celebration in 2016 marked five decades of parish history.