Salesians of Don Bosco

The Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), formally known as the Society of Saint Francis de Sales (Latin: Societas Sancti Francisci Salesii), is a religious congregation of men in the Catholic Church, founded in the late 19th century by Italian priest Saint John Bosco to help poor children during the Industrial Revolution and named after Saint Francis de Sales, a 17th-century bishop of Geneva.

This article is about the religious order. For schools bearing the name, see Don Bosco School (disambiguation).
Salesians of Don Bosco

Coat of arms of the Salesians
AbbreviationSDB
MottoDa mihi Animas cætera tolle ("Give me souls, take away the rest")
FormationDec 18,1859 (Dec 18,1859)
FounderJohn Bosco
TypeClerical Religious Congregation of Pontifical Right (for Men)
Membership (2017)
14,795
Ángel Fernández Artime
Vicar of the Rector Major
Francesco Cereda
Main organ
Rector Major And General Council
Websitehttps://www.sdb.org/en
Formerly called
Society of St Francis of Sales
Statue of Don Bosco at St John Bosco Parish Church, Taipei, Taiwan

The Salesians' charter describes the society's mission as "the Christian perfection of its associates obtained by the exercise of spiritual and corporal works of charity towards the young, especially the poor, and the education of boys to the priesthood".[1] Its associated women's institute is the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, while the lay movement is the Association of Salesian Cooperators.

History

In 1845 Don John Bosco ("Don" being a traditional Italian honorific for priest) opened a night school for boys in Valdocco, now part of the municipality of Turin in Italy. In the following years, he opened several more schools, and in 1857 drew up a set of rules for his helpers. This rule was approved definitively in 1873 by Pope Pius IX as the Rule of the Society of Saint Francis de Sales. The Society grew rapidly, with houses established in France and Argentina within a year of the Society's formal recognition. Its official print organ, Salesian Bulletin, was first published in 1877.

Over the next decade the Salesians expanded into Austria, Britain, Spain, and several countries in South America. The death of Don Bosco in 1888 did not slow down the Society's growth. By 1911 the Salesians were established throughout the world, including Colombia, China, India, South Africa, Tunisia, Venezuela and the United States.

The Society continues to operate worldwide; in 2017, it counted 14,795 members in 1,808 houses. It has 134 churches.

Symbols

Coat of arms

The Salesian coat of arms was designed by Professor Boidi. It was published for the first time in a circular letter of Don Bosco on 8 December 1885. It consist of a shining star, the large anchor, and the heart on fire to symbolize the theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity. The figure of Saint Francis de Sales recalls the patron of the society. The small wood in the lower part refers to the founder of the society; the high mountains signify the heights of perfection towards which members strive; the interwoven palm and laurel that enfold the shield on either side are emblematic of the prize reserved for a virtuous and sacrificial life. The motto Da mihi animas, caetera tolle ("Give me souls, take away the rest") is featured at the bottom.

The Salesian logo is made up of two superimposed images.

In the background is a globe to represent the worldwide reach of the Salesians, and a stylised "S" in white is formed within the globe, resembling a snaking road representing an educational journey for the youth.

In the foreground is an arrow pointing upwards, resting on three perpendicular legs on top of which are three closed circles, making a stylised image of three people: the first of these in the middle and taller than the others is the point of the arrow, and the other two beside it appear as it were to be embraced by the central figure. These three stylized figures represent Saint John Bosco reaching out to the young, and his call for Salesians to continue his work. The three stylised figures with the arrow pointing upwards can also be viewed as a house dwelling with a sloping roof and three pillars holding it up, represents John Bosco's Oratories of Reason, Religion and Kindness.

The logo combines elements from those of the German and Brazilian provinces. The idea of combining the two came out of suggestions from an enquiry about the new logo conducted throughout the Congregation and from contributions by the General Council. It is designed with the central theme "Don Bosco and the Salesians walking with the young through the world." The artistic work of combining the two was carried out by the designer Fabrizio Emigli, from the Litos Company, in Rome.

Organization
Ángel Fernández Artime, Rector Major of the Salesians of Don Bosco (2014-present)

The Salesians of Don Bosco are headed by the Rector Major and the society's general council, while each of the ninety-four geographical provinces is headed by a Provincial. These officers serve six-year terms; the Rector Major and the members of the general council are elected by the Chapter General, which meets every six years or upon the death of the Rector Major. Each local Salesian community is headed by a superior, called a Rector (or more commonly, "Director"), who is appointed to a three-year term and can be renewed for a second three-year term.

Since 2014, the Rector Major of the Salesians is the Very Reverend Father Ángel Fernández Artime.[2]

Map showing the regional organization of the Salesians of Don Bosco, dotted with the location of the headquarters of Salesian provinces and vice-provinces.

Works

Salesian communities primarily operate shelters for homeless or at-risk youths; schools; technical, vocational, and language instruction centers for youths and adults; and boys' clubs and community centers. In some areas they run parish churches. Salesians are also active in publishing and other public communication activities, as well as mission work, especially in Asia (Siberia - in the Yakutsk area), Africa, and South America (Yanomami). The Salesian Bulletin is now published in fifty-two editions, in thirty languages.

In 1988, the Salesians branched to create the Salesian Youth Movement. Then in the 1990s, the Salesians launched new works in the area of tertiary education, and today have a network of over 58 colleges and universities. The official university of the Salesian Society is the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome.

Sexual abuse scandal
Main article: Sexual abuse scandal in the Salesian order

A number of schools and churches established under the Salesians have been at the center of child sex abuse scandals, including Mary Help of Christians in Tampa, Florida.[3] Due to ongoing sexual assault lawsuits and settlements, several boarding schools were closed.[4]

Notable members
Lucas Van Looy (left), Bishop of Ghent

Saints and Blesseds

Other notable members

See also

References
  1.  Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "The Salesian Society". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
  2. "Salesians' new leader worked with Bergoglio in Argentina".
  3. "Lawsuit filed in Tampa documents child sex abuse case at defunct Catholic school". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2019-12-22.
  4. "Lawsuit filed in Tampa documents child sex abuse case at defunct Catholic school". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2019-12-22.
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