Intro to Salesian Youth Ministry

There are many models and styles of youth ministry. The Salesian model is based on the experience of St. John Bosco, widely known as Don Bosco (in Italy priests are addressed with the title of "Don" rather than "Father"). While the Salesians have over the years developed theoretical construct for Salesian youth ministry, it is based on Don Bosco's nearly fifty years of experience of youth ministry.

If you don't know anything about Don Bosco you might want to read a short biography of this dynamic "Apostle of Youth." (Click here for a biography of Don Bosco)

Since childhood John had gathered the children from the village and taught them "catechism" by repeating for them the Sunday sermon he had heard in the Church. In order to keep their attention he would perform feats of acrobatics and magic, which he had taught himself watching the performers in the weekly trips to the market with his mother to sell produce. He continued to gather young people all through his school years even in the seminary years. This photograph of a sculpture shows Johnny Bosco walking a tight rope to the delight of his young audience.

Don Bosco was ordained to the priesthood in 1841 and began his ministry in Turin, Italy. He was not a trained educator, but was prepared for a general pastoral ministry.

Soon street kids found Don Bosco and he began to gather them on Sundays for games, catechism lessons, Mass and food. These youngsters were child workers. Many were homeless. These gatherings became very popular, but because Don Bosco had no place to gather them he would look for vacant lots each Sunday. He called the gatherings "The Oratory." Eventually he had to purchase some property to give his Oratory a permanent home. The Oratory of St. Francis of Sales became the center of a worldwide ministry. Don Bosco founded a religious community of Brothers and Priests the Society of St. Francis de Sales (after his death to become known as the Salesians of Don Bosco) and later with St. Mary Mazzarello a community of women, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. (Click here for a biography of Mary Mazzarello)