St. John Bosco, commonly known as Don Bosco was born on August 16, 1815, atBecchi in Italy. At the age of two, his father died. He became a priest in 1841 and dedicated his entire life to the service of youth, especially the poor and marginalized. He worked hard to give them food and shelter. He prepared them for life, to be good human beings and honest citizens.
He founded a great society with three main branches: Salesian Fathers and Brothers (SDB), Salesian Sisters (FMA) and Salesian Co-operators (ASC). Millions are now all over the world who are proud of their education and the values they have received in the centres associated with Don Bosco
The work of this humble priest has grown from a tiny seed onto a gigantic tree, stretching its branches across countries and continents. He lived to 73. So indefatigably had he worked that it was firmly established. He died in the morning of 31st January 1888. Don Bosco was declared a Saint of the Catholic Church on 1st April 1934.
St. Mary Mazzarello:
Mary Domenica Mazzarello was born on May 9, 1837 at Mornese, a small town in northern Italy into a peasant family. Gifted with uncommon good health and physical strength, she worked in the fields and vineyards with her father Joseph. At home she helped her mother Maddalena run the house and take care of the children. Her parents formed her to a profound sense of God, an upright conscience, a marked practical sense, and depth of judgment.
In 1855 she joined the Pious Union of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, which aimed to bring God back to home and state and promote love for the Church and the Pope through the good example of frequenting the Sacraments, loving Christ in His Passion, and being tenderly devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
In 1862 Don Pestarino met with Saint John Bosco. Moved by the work Don Bosco was doing for abandoned boys, he became a Salesian priest. Through Don Pestarino who had spoken to him of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate, Don Bosco sent Mary and Petronilla a note which changed their lives and the way they did things:
In 1864 Don Bosco approved Fr. Pestarino’s plan to open a school for the boys of the town and of the surrounding areas. On that occasion, Mary Domenica perceived that she was in the presence of a saint and said: “Don Bosco is a saint, and I feel it.”
Over the years he and Mary kept in touch, and liked how she worked with the girls. Don Bosco wanted to set up an Institute that would reach out to many poor and abandoned young girls, in the same way the he was already doing for boys.In 1871, he spoke to Pope Pius IX and asked for
permission to found an order of nuns. The Pope gave his approval. It was Maria DomenicaMazzarello who, as co-founder of this Institute gave life and form to this newly founded Institute of Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) on August 5th 1872.
Mary Mazzarello died on May 14, 1881 in NizzaMonferrato, Italy. She was beatified on November 20, 1938 and canonized on June 24, 1951. At the time of her death, there were 139 sisters in 27 convents in Italy, France, and South America. 1875 saw the first expansion of the Salesian work outside Europe. India welcomed the first Salesian Sisters in 1922.
Thus, the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA) also known as the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco is an organization founded in Italy in the year 1872 by Don Bosco, the great modern educator in collaboration with Saint Maria Domenica Mazzarello.
