Don Bosco’s Salesians celebrate milestones in 2023
By Josh Low
This month the Salesians of Don Bosco celebrate a momentous 100 years since their first arrival to Australia on the 30th of March 1923.
Founded by St John Bosco in 1859, the Society of St Francis de Sales (SDB) were inspired by the example of their namesake St Francis de Sales. The Salesians became known for being dedicated to work with youth.
Following the request of the Congregation of Propaganda Fide, responsible at the time for organising the Church’s missionary work, the first group of Salesians set out for Australia from Italy in a party consisting of Bishop Ernest Coppo, Rector Major Filippo Rinaldi, four priests and three religious brothers.
Now in 2023, there are approximately 70 Salesians, both young and old, who work in various parts of Australia, with many others also contributing to the life of the Church in the Pacific region.
Salesian Provincial of the Australia-Pacific region, Fr William Matthews SDB, said the centenary is a proud and humbling experience for all Salesians.
“We are thankful to the first missionaries who arrived in Fremantle in Western Australia in 1923 for their utter trust in God and the many sacrifices they made.
“Over the past hundred years, the Salesians have been able to contribute to and share in the overall mission of the Catholic Church in Australia,” he said.
“Many have gone to their eternal reward, and we now stand on their shoulders and continue on with what they have achieved.”
Salesians today are actively involved in youth ministry in schools, parishes, youth centres, leadership training, camps, migrant chaplaincies, and social work across the country.
Fr Will expressed his gratitude to God on behalf of all Salesians for the opportunity to serve in Australia, and his own personal gratitude for his vocation as a Salesian.
“I can say that the charism of St John Bosco is very much alive in many parts of Australia with thanks to thousands of lay people who are working collaboratively with consecrated Salesians in education of the young, and I pray that the work of God in the charism of St John Bosco will live forever in this Great South Land,” Fr Will said.
“I would have never dreamt of being the Provincial at this momentous time in history.
“It is the work of God, and I am merely His instrument! I’m extremely proud of being a Salesian in 2023 and for many more years to come,” he concluded.
The Salesian community in Tasmania this year also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Dominic College, and more than 75 years since their arrival to Glenorchy.
Five Salesians currently live in Tasmania, with four living in community. Three of those four work at Dominic College in a full-time capacity, but their work extends beyond the school gate ministering to young people in the broader Glenorchy, Brighton and Bridgewater communities.
Rector of Dominic College and the Salesian community in Tasmania, Fr Bernie Graham SDB, said the education of young people is at the heart of their work locally.
“Most of us have worked in and had a lot of experience in education, and we look forward to doing what we have always done, to bring that spirit of the Salesians charism into our young people.
“But the importance is not just the charism – it’s about bringing the faith of Jesus Christ to young people,” he said.
“We want to educate and bring our young people up to be good Christians and good citizens. And so that’s continually our focus; to enable our young people to see that they have a way to bring life to their spirituality, but also contribute to the community.”
To celebrate the centenary of the Salesians arrival in Australia, a first-class relic of St Don John Bosco will be touring the country, including Tasmania. The relic is scheduled to arrive in the Glenorchy Parish in August this year.
Information about the relic and its availability for veneration will be released at a later date.