News

In dealing with the special character of the Salesian work in Great Britain one has to be aware, as was Don Rua, that to implant the Salesian life and work here meant encountering a totally different culture and tradition to that of the Latin and largely Catholic culture of Italy, Spain or South America. England saw itself as Protestant and the predominant world power in the late 19th century. Almost... Read More »

In Battersea there is a parish with its primary school, and a secondary school called St John Bosco College. Battersea is the British Province's first purpose-built 'oratory' - a space for young people with a church, a school, a playground, and a Salesian community offering hospitality. The Don Bosco Centre, within the community house, has residential and day facilities which can be booked for groups... Read More »

Early years, marked by Don Bosco

Luigi Variara was born in Viarigi in the province of Asti on the 15th January 1875 to a deeply Christian family. His father Pietro had heard Don Bosco in 1856, when he came to the village to preach a mission. He decided to take Luigi to Valdocco to continue his studies. The Saint would die four months later. But what Luigi came to know of him was sufficient to leave... Read More »

Oratorian at Rimini

Alberto Marvelli was born at Ferrari on 21st March 1918, the second of seven brothers. When he moved to Rimini with the family he began to attend the Salesian Oratory there. He was always available and became a catechist and leader: the Salesians' right arm. He loved to play all kinds of sport. As models he took St Dominic Savio and Pier Giorgio Frassati. At 17 years of age he wrote... Read More »

Early life

Ceferino (sometimes spelt Zefferino or Zeffirino) Namuncurá was born on the 26th August 1886 at Chimpay, on the banks of the Rio Negro. His father, Manuel, last great leader of the Araucane Indian tribe, had surrendered three years earlier to troops from the Argentine Republic.

Studies

Manuel Namuncurá sent Ceferino, after he had wandered free on the pampas for eleven years, to... Read More »

Philip was born on 28th May 1856 at Lu Monferrato (Alessandria) and at twenty one years old he joined Don Bosco. When he was ordained priest his first responsibility was the formation of aspirants and novices. In 1889 Don Rua sent him to Spain as Rector of the community at Sarria. Later he was asked to be Provincial and made a decisive contribution to the development of the Salesians in Spain.

Artemide Zatti was born in Boretto (Reggio Emilia) on 12th October 1880. He experienced difficulties and sacrifices from an early date. By the age of nine he was already earning his living as a day labourer. Poverty forced his family to emigrate to Bahí­a Blanca, Argentina. Here Artemide began to attend the parish run by the Salesians and developed great confidence in the Parish Priest,... Read More »

Laura Carmen Vicuna was born in Santiago, Chile, in 1891. When her father died suddenly, her mother took Laura and her sister to Argentina. In 1900 Laura entered a school run by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. The following year she made her first Holy Communion and, like Dominic Savio, she made resolutions to love God with all her strength, to do penance and die rather than sin, to make... Read More »

Michael Rua was born on 9th June 1837, the last of nine children. He entered Don Bosco's Oratory in 1852. One day Don Bosco told him: "We two will go halves in everything".

He was among the first few with whom Don Bosco shared the idea of forming the 'Salesian Society'. For 36 years he was Don Bosco's closest collaborator in the development of the Congregation. He made his first profession in 1855,... Read More »

Seminary director

Joseph Cafasso was born in Castelnuovo d'Asti in 1811. Son of small land owners, he was the third of four children, of whom the last, Marianna, would be the mother of Blessed Fr Joseph Allamano. From when he was very young the family and the entire village regarded him as a young saint. He completed his theological studies at the seminary in Chieri and in 1833 was ordained priest.... Read More »