Salesians of Don Bosco
The Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) have gone long way as the third largest missionary congregation in the world from its obscure founding when St. John Boso in 1859 gathered willing young people from the oratory to form a new religious congregation. From a small band of volunteers attracted to St. John's charism of life spent for the development of young people, the Salesians worked relentlessly and had spread across six continents by the end of the 20th century.
Today, it has more than 17,000 members in 1,616 houses worldwide, numbers still increasing as years passes by, working actively for the young, in Parishes, and in running schools, street children centers, seminaries, skills training centers, youth centers, publication and lay formation centers.
St. John Bosco (1815-1888) was a charismatic champion of the young; he himself was an educator and a catechist to the youth especially the poor, those in need and in delinquents. He wanted his Salesians to acquire the traits of the Bishop of Geneva, St. Frances de Sales, who was known for his kindness and gentleness. The Salesian Society was approved as a congregation by Pope Pius IX in MArch 1, 1869, though Don Bosco started his works as early as December 8, 1841 through his encounter with an orphan, Bartholomew Garelli.
By the year 1950, the beginning of the Chinese communist persecution of the Catholics resulted in the eventual exodus of foreign religious congregations, and one of which was the Salesians, to the other Asian countries. The Salesian came to the Philippines as early as 1951 and established its setting in Tarlac, Tarlac and Victorias, Negros Occidental. And in 1954, established its first pressence in Punta Princesa, Cebu - The Cebu Boy's Town.
In August 15, 1955, Fr. John Peter Cliffors, SDB arrived in the Philippines from Hongkong. And in August 29, 1955 at Pier 1, Fr. John arrived in Cebu to officially start his missionary work. Appointed as the first rector of the boys Center, he could be rightfully declared as the founder of the first Salesian institution. in Cebu. It was he who asked Archbishop Julio Rosales to give Our Lady of Lourdes Parish to the Salesians in 1956; the Archbishop had in mind that the parish would take care of the Catholic Families in the area to have thier sons educated in Cebu Boys Town. The rest, they say, was history. - Emelito E. Torres (One Love)
Today, it has more than 17,000 members in 1,616 houses worldwide, numbers still increasing as years passes by, working actively for the young, in Parishes, and in running schools, street children centers, seminaries, skills training centers, youth centers, publication and lay formation centers.
St. John Bosco (1815-1888) was a charismatic champion of the young; he himself was an educator and a catechist to the youth especially the poor, those in need and in delinquents. He wanted his Salesians to acquire the traits of the Bishop of Geneva, St. Frances de Sales, who was known for his kindness and gentleness. The Salesian Society was approved as a congregation by Pope Pius IX in MArch 1, 1869, though Don Bosco started his works as early as December 8, 1841 through his encounter with an orphan, Bartholomew Garelli.
By the year 1950, the beginning of the Chinese communist persecution of the Catholics resulted in the eventual exodus of foreign religious congregations, and one of which was the Salesians, to the other Asian countries. The Salesian came to the Philippines as early as 1951 and established its setting in Tarlac, Tarlac and Victorias, Negros Occidental. And in 1954, established its first pressence in Punta Princesa, Cebu - The Cebu Boy's Town.
In August 15, 1955, Fr. John Peter Cliffors, SDB arrived in the Philippines from Hongkong. And in August 29, 1955 at Pier 1, Fr. John arrived in Cebu to officially start his missionary work. Appointed as the first rector of the boys Center, he could be rightfully declared as the founder of the first Salesian institution. in Cebu. It was he who asked Archbishop Julio Rosales to give Our Lady of Lourdes Parish to the Salesians in 1956; the Archbishop had in mind that the parish would take care of the Catholic Families in the area to have thier sons educated in Cebu Boys Town. The rest, they say, was history. - Emelito E. Torres (One Love)