THE SALESIANS OF DON BOSCO
St. John Bosco was born in Turin, italy in 1815. Two years later his father died and this future saint was raised by his mother. He experienced the pains of poverty at a very tender age And his life work was inspired by these early years. John Wanted to become a priest, especially to assist youth. In order to pursue his dreams, he had to leave home at avery young age to jin the city school. Much bigger thanhes classmates, he was often the object of considerable ridicule. Earning whatever he could agter school byworking as a tailor or a cobbler and studying by candle light, little did anyone know what his education cost him. John Bosco, popularly known as Don (Father) Bosco, Was ordained a priest at the age of 26. He immediatelyBegan his work with orphans and opened a home forBoys where his mother wderved as housekeeper, within aShort time, 150 himeless biys who were living with him Were instructed in religion and given an opportunity toLearn trade skills. Workshops for tailoring, shomemakingAnd printing were set up, and Don Bosco trained his staff to assist him in caring for the boys. Those associated with Don Bosco and his work beganTo accept him as their father and guide. Some expressedTheir desire to become jst like him. And so the salesianSociety comprising priests and lay brothers was born .(the word 'salesian' is from the name of the patron, st.Francis de sales, a saint much admired by Son Bosco For his conversion from an angry young man to a kind and gentle bishop.) The Salesians dedicated themselves to the care ofOrphans and other boys who were homeless and their Mission spread rapidly from notthrn italy to the entreCountry. Whrn Don Bosco died in 1888, the Congregation, which was only 20 years old, had over1,000 members. It had also spread to 7 countries in Europe and South America. The greatest gift Don Bosco left is his unique way of Education, a method that was inspired by hisMagnificent obsession: 'it is enough to know that youAre young and abandoned, for me to love you veryMuch.'More than a century agter the death of Don Bosco,Thousands of peoplehave dedicated themselves to the Continuation of his apostolic love for young people.All over the world, the salesians of Don Bosco (sdb),As they are called, have a single mission: to be 'signsAnd bearers of God's love for the young.'
