Ragusa, the oratory of the Church of San Pier Giuliano Eymard will be redeveloped.

The city councilor of Ragusa, Giovanni Sortino, announces the allocation of 30,000 euros for the redevelopment of the sports field adjacent to the Church of San Giuliano Eymard, in the area of the Police Headquarters.

The process began on July 10, 2024, when Sortino conducted an initial inspection together with Emiliano Amico, head of the socialization center “C’è Tempo” of the Diocesan Caritas, and the then parish priest, Father Joseph.

On that occasion, the marked degradation of the facility was noted, which has been the only multifunctional gathering place in the neighborhood for years.

Since 2022, the Diocesan Caritas has been promoting educational and social activities in the parish—workshops, after-school programs, training courses, and sports initiatives—that, despite the great potential of the area, have so far only been able to take place in a small portion of the courtyard.

«I believe that youth centers, parish halls, sports fields, and squares are – now more than ever – fundamental places for the growth of our young people», declares Sortino.

«They are spaces where we learn to be together, to share, to grow as citizens. I myself grew up between the parish and the Salesian youth center in Ibla and those afternoons spent with my peers helped shape the friendships and values that I carry with me even today».

Driven by this sense of belonging and civic responsibility, the councilor has advocated for the cause of redevelopment by identifying public funding channels suitable for restoring to the neighborhood a safe, decent, and fully accessible space.

With the D.D. n. 351/2026 of March 3, 2026, the Regional Department of Budget and Treasury approved a budget variation that allocates 30,000 euros for the renovation of the sports area.

«This funding represents a concrete step towards restoring an essential gathering place for the neighborhood», continues Sortino. «It is proof that when we work with consistency, listening, and a spirit of collaboration, the results come. And they come for the entire community».

The councilor expresses his gratitude to those who contributed to the achievement: «I would like to thank Father Joseph and the current parish priest, Father Giovanni Filesi, for their availability and shared vision; Honorable Giorgio Assenza, who supported and promoted the initiative at the regional offices; Domenico Leggio, the director of the diocesan Caritas, and Emiliano Amico, who have believed from the very beginning in the possibility of restoring dignity to this space; councilors Gianni Giuffrida and Simone Digrandi, who, for their respective areas of expertise, supported the administrative process with conviction and timeliness».

«It is results like this that make me proud of my role as a city councilor», concludes Sortino. «I will continue to work with determination to always pursue the common good and to enhance every place that can become an opportunity for growth, meeting, and community».