John Bosco was born on August 16, 1815, in a small town not too far from Turin, Italy. His father died when he was two years old so he was raised with tender love, yet firm discipline, by his mother, Margaret. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1841 and went to work in Turin, where the industrial revolution was attracting waves of young people to the city.
The misery and abandonment of these youngsters deeply moved Don Bosco (Italian for 'Father Bosco'). He dedicated his life to giving shelter, work and a home to boys who would otherwise have been abandoned. He started hostels and boarding schools, where he taught them trades. In working with boys who had known only poverty and mistreatment he drew inspiration from the gentleness of St. Francis de Sales and, in 1854, founded a religious community, the Salesian Society. In 1872, he founded the Salesian Sisters to work for girls and, three years later, he sent the first missionary group to Argentina. His work spread throughout the mission world and today more than half the Society works in mission lands.
