Salesian Family
DON BOSCO PAST PUPILS’ ASSOCIATION
The origin of the Don Bosco Past Pupils’ Association is to be sought in the Preventive System, based as it is on the supernatural love of Don Bosco for the young. The pupils felt themselves loved by Don Bosco, not merely as pupils, but as sons, and consequently felt the need to return to their father’s house on his feast day on June 24, 1870. Henceforth, under the leadership of Charles Gastini, it became an annual affair and the beginning of the association of past pupils. The members of the Past Pupils’ Association are persons who, because they attended a Salesian…
ASSOCIATION DEVOTED TO MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS
On June 9,1868 the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians in Valdocco was consecrated. Don Bosco entrusts to the Association Devoted to Mary help of Christians (ADMA) the spreading of devotion to our Lady under this title. He obtains the erection of the Association from the Archbishop of Turin, A. Riccardi, on April 18, 1869. On April 5, 1870 Pope Pius IX raised it to Archconfraternity with the right to aggregate the Associations having the same name and regulations in the Archdiocese of Turin. On July 5, 1989 the Rector Major , Father Egidio Viganò, acknowledges the fact that the…
ASSOCIATION OF SALESIAN COOPERATORS
The Association of Salesian Cooperators date back to the origins of Don Bosco’s apostolic project to help poor, abandoned boys. From the early days in Turin, he engaged men and women of different backgrounds and places to help him, within the bounds of their possibilities. As he expanded his work he realized not only that he was increasingly in need of cooperators (including priests, but above all lay people) linked to the Salesian mission, but also to form an association for them in order to give greater power to their work. Initially, he wanted them to be “extern” members of…
FMA SISTERS
Upon the persistent request of many people in Turin, and as a result of his own perceptions, Don Bosco resolved to take steps in setting up an Institute that would reach out to many poor and abandoned young girls. It so happened that in the township of Mornese, situated in the hills of Monferrato, a young woman by the name of Mary Domenica Mazzarello was accompanying a group of young women who together with her, were dedicated to helping young girls learn a trade and while doing so, guided them in their Christian development. It was August 5, 1872, when,…
CSJ
The congregation of the Caritas Sisters of Jesus (CSJ) was founded by Salesians Fr. Antonio Cavoli, SDB and co-founder, Venerable Vincent Cimatti, SDB in 1937 in Miyazaki, Japan. The founder, named the congregation “Caritas” because it started with love and concern for the poor people. The love and self-sacrificing work for the abandoned of the Caritas sisters won the hearts of a lot of non-Catholics and led them to God. The small seed blossomed into fruitful tree that has spread its missionary presence in 15 countries with around 1000 sisters of different nationalities
CSMA
The Congregation of St Michael the Archangel (CSMA) known as the Michaelites was founded by Blessed Father Bronislaw Markiewicz. From the very beginning of his priestly life, he was particularly sensitive towards the religious, moral and material negligence of children and youth and to the misery of disadvantaged people. Following the Divine Voice, he went to Italy and became a follower of Saint John Bosco. After seven years, in 1892 he returned to Poland and began work in Miejsce Piastowe (South-east Poland). On 23rd September 1897 he petitioned the Bishop of Przemysl and the Pope to allow him to found…
Salesian Family
Don Bosco created a vast movement of persons to bring the Gospel of Jesus to young people and to work for their benefit. He himself founded the Society of St. Francis de Sales (Salesians of Don Bosco), the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Salesian Sisters), the Association of Salesian Cooperators, and the Association Devoted to Mary Help (ADMA). Since then other groups have formed. Today 31 groups make up the Salesian Family spread throughout the world. These Groups have specifically distinct vocations but they live in communion with each other, share Don Bosco’s charism of ministering to the young especially those who are poor and at risk.
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