John Bosco was born on 16th August, 1815, to Francis Bosco and Margaret Bosco in the little hamlet of Becchi, near the industrial city of Turin, Italy. Losing his father when he was just three years old, he grew up in poverty and hardship, unable to attend a regular school. As he grew up, his own poverty and underprivileged position made him identify himself increasingly with other boys like him. He was ordained a priest on 5th June, 1841.

He disregarded all offers of confort and opted to share his life with the poor street urchins of Turin. His work tok him into the streets, factories and prisons where he encountered neglected youth and young delinquents. The beginnings were hard, with no place to shelter and work but this did not trickle in. He obtained a small plot of land outside Turin at Valdocco. The small shed which he put up herewas the nucleus of the preesent institutions. Valdocco in course of time became a town where his boys could learn a trade of their choice, acquire a sound education and move into the world with confidence. At the centre of this complex Don Bosco built a shrine to Mother Mary. Many of his ow boys opted to share his mission.

Thus was born the religious society of Don Bosco, called the Salesian Society in 1859. In 1872 a similar socirty for women called the Salesian Sisters was formed to look after poor girls. Don Bosco organised his lay collaborators into a Salesian family. Don Bosco died on 31st january, 1888 at Valdocco, having lived a life wholly dedicated to his boys. His vision and spirit hae continued to flourish and grow. Today there are 36000 Salesians and Salesian sisters working in over 100 countries, more so in the developing countries of Asia, Africa and South America.

The first group of Salesians came to India in 1906. There are also over 2,500 Salesians ans Salesian Sisters working in India in about 300 communities.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India