John Melchior Bosco
The history of our society can be traced to an obscure village in the north of Italy called The Becchi (I Becchi, in Italian).
Our history began, we may say, when little John Bosco dreamed a very strange dream at the age of 9. Or we may date the origins of our society t o a surprise encounter that brought him face to face with a frightened street urchin in a church sacristy on 8 December 1841. Or perhaps to the little band of 17 young men to whom Don Bosco first gave the title ‘Salesians’ on 26 January, 1854.
But these historical facts barely explain our international existence as a ‘family’ of nearly 402,500 members in the service of young people.
1815 Born at Castelnuovo, in the kingdom of Savoy, 16 August
1824 (or 1825) A mysterious dream reveals his life’s mission
1835 After overcoming many difficulties, John enters the seminary
1841 Ordination to the priesthood. He goes to live in the capital, Turin
1845 The “Wandering Oratory”* – gatherings of street boys in a different location each Sunday - begins
1846 The oratory finds a permanent home in the disreputable Valdocco quarter of Turin
1851 John is able to buy the “Pinardi House”, previously rented
1854 His closest helpers are called Salesians - after St Francis of Sales - for the first time
1859 The Salesians are formed into a religious congregation
1864 Don+ Bosco meets Mary Mazzarello, with whom he would found the Salesian Sisters
1868 The great Basilica of Mary, Help of Christians, the “mother-church” of the Salesian Movement, is completed
1870 The Association of Salesian Past Pupils is established
1875 The first Salesian missionaries depart for Argentina
1876 Don Bosco founds the Salesian Cooperators, the lay branch of the Salesian Family
1888 Don Bosco dies, 31 January. There are 773 Salesians and 393 Sisters
1922 The first Salesians come to Australia, in the Kimberley region of W.A.
1934 Don Bosco is canonised by Pope Pius XI on Easter Sunday. For the first time in history, the ceremony is held in the great Square of St Peter’s, because of the anticipated crowds
1991 The Salesians and the Salesian Sisters number about 17,000 each. In addition, twenty religious congregations, a secular institute and two lay organisations are officially recognised as part of the “Salesian Family”.
Just over 100 years from Don Bosco’s death the Salesian Family proudly numbers 3 Saints, 5 Blessed and 107 official candidates for canonisation, ie. Sainthood. Among these are St Dominic Savio, pupil of Don Bosco and Blessed Laura Vicuna, pupil of the Salesian Sisters.
The Salesians serve in 98 nations around the world.
* Bosco called his house an “Oratory”, ie a place of prayer
+ “Don” is the honorific used by clergy in Italy
