Priest Lorenzo Massa founded San Lorenzo club to protect youth

Father Lorenzo Bartolomé Martín Massa opened the doors of the Oratorio San Antonio in the Almagro neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, to provide a safe space for local children.

Massa, a Salesian priest, noticed a group of boys known as Los Forzosos de Almagro playing football in the streets. Because the area was dangerous due to nearby trams, Massa decided to let the children use the sanctuary for sports.

This decision allowed the youth to practice in a secure environment and served as the starting point for a major sports institution. On April 1, 1908, these children officially formed Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro. The club chose its name to honor the saint and the priest who protected the group. Beyond football, Massa expanded his social work by establishing the Exploradores Argentinos de Don Bosco in 1915 to provide education and social support.

Massa died in 1949, but the club continues to honor his legacy. In 2008, the club moved his remains from Chacarita cemetery to a mausoleum at the Oratorio San Antonio. This site remains the location where the club first began.