The Salesians are a modern religious society of priests and brothers founded in 1859 by St. John Bosco to reach out to poor and needy youth. We are the third largest religious order in the world - some 17,000 strong working in 100 countries all over the world. And then there are the Sisters - another 17,000! And then there are the Cooperators, the Young Cooperators, the men and women Volunteers - several hundred thousand again!
What makes the Salesians unique? The special teaching methods of Don Bosco. Who was he, anyways ? John Bosco was born near Turin, Italy in 1815. From an early age, he was drawn toward helping poor and abandoned kids. In 1835 he entered the seminary and supported himself by working as a tailor, blacksmith, shoemaker, carpenter, violinist, acrobat, and magician. All these talents came in handy during his lifetime of working with youngsters. John was ordained in 1841 and soon after started a movement that would one day reach out to millions of poor kids on every continent. The Salesian Society was given permanent status within the Catholic Church in 1874. Don (Father in Italian) Bosco died in 1888 and was canonized in 1934 as the Apostle of Youth.
Realizing that giving bread to a hungry boy was only a temporary solution, Don Bosco developed what was actually the first "job placement" program in industrialized Europe. He developed practical ways to help kids help themselves. He did this through a program of "play...learn...pray." He overcame evil by reason, religion, and kindness. He pioneered trade schools, technical schools, and agricultural schools. His methods worked a hundred years ago and they work today... on every continent and in every culture where there are poor kids who need a friend.
The Salesians of Don Bosco in Malta work in Sliema running the "Salezjani" Youth Centre, a Youth Hostel and St. Patrick's Residential School for boys. Savio College, Dingli, is not just a prestigious school, it is also a retreat centre and home to a variety of initiatives in favour of the world of youth. The Youth Centre in Dingli village and the Mission School in Tunisia complete the present picture of our major maltese works.
If one were a Salesian, what would he do? He'd work with and for young people. He'd help kids with his heart, his hands, and his will. He'd give them a chance to grow up and become responsible members of their community. Best of all, the opportunities are unlimited! He could be an academic teacher, technical instructor, coach sports, run a youth centre, run a summer camp, serve in orphanages and other filanthropic institutions, make films, be a guidance counselor, music director, business director... The possibilities are endless. So are the locations, both in Malta and all over the world. All one needs is the desire to work with kids. And what goes for "him" goes for "her" too !
HOW DOES ONE WORK FOR VOCATIONS?
By Antoine Farrugia sdb (Rome) Richard Ebejer sdb (Malta)
Malta, being a tiny nation in the sunny heart of the Mediterranean, has a vocations problem! What's new? So did Don Bosco in his days! This year we've tried to start a push for new apostles and this time we're trying on four different fronts: three groups of consecrated salesians: SDBs, VCDBs (Male Volunteers) and VDBs (Female Volunteers) plus committed Laity.
On Sunday June 2, the VDBs formally (i.e. canonically erected) established their sub-group in Malta. "Dorianne" will be making her first profession in Rome on the 9th of August. She will be the first Maltese VDB.
The VCDBs have bought a nice spacious house from which they work on their own formation and that of their new recruits. Their daily work (presently: hospital nurse, bookshop attendant, youth worker, computer programmer,...) receives a deeper meaning and motivation through the Spirit of our common Founder.
The SDBs have been sensitising the population as to our work even through the media. This year has seen the start of two, fortnightly, full pages on the newspapers tackling youth problems and questions from young people, their parents and educators. "Quest", as one such service is called, is prepared by a group of 6 lay people and two salesians. They organise three-day live-ins with school leavers, in the hope that these young people, sharing in the work we do, may become more involved with the idea-possibility of a vocation and ask themselves the question "Why not me?"
Further, those young people who are involved with the salesians as animators are invited to a "faith walk" from St. Paul's Grotto to Bingemma (a place in the countryside) where they celebrate a youthful open-air Eucharist; Last year's event was quite successful. This year there will be the Brothers, Pre-Novices, VDBs, VCDBs, Oratory Leaders, Camp Leaders and the Group going to Tunis. Totally Muslim Tunis is home for the Maltese Mission Outpost. In a week's time ten University students will be going there for three weeks to meet with the 800 kids and 3 Salesians in our school. They experience the impact that salesian work with needy kids can have and also discover the richness that is in every single one of these - poor and not-so-poor alike. For each group that visits, it turns out to be in some measure a spiritual experience.
July sees the start of the Summer Camps, Salesian Retreats, and in the Oratories and Youth Centres: the Summer Programmes. The special work the Salesians do in St. Patrick's - tackling kids referred to us by Social Services and their dysfuncioning families - obviously knows no holidays. Of all our works it is probably the most demanding. Nonetheless, one can honestly say that it is our very pride and joy!
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BOSCO ONLINE is edited by Joe Boenzi for the Institute of Salesian Studies in Berkeley, California. It is an attempt from the Western USA to link members of the Salesian Family engaged in educational & pastoral work among the young. Your input is welcome!
DON BOSCO HALL: 1831 Arch Street * Berkeley, CA 94709 * Phone: (510) 204-0829 * FAX: (510) 843-4335 * email: jobonz@aol.com
E-mail to Antoine Farrugia.
S-mail: "Ist. Gerini", 994, v. Tiburtina, ROMA 00156, ITALY