Don Bosco
Technical Data
| Date of Issue | January 31, 1989 |
|---|---|
| Denomination | 60 p |
| Quantity | 2000000 |
| Perforation | comb 13 |
| Printer | Security Printing Press, Nashik |
| Watermark | No Watermark |
| Colors | Carmine |
| Catalog Codes |
Michel IN 1207 Stamp Number IN 1264 Yvert et Tellier IN 1010 Stanley Gibbons IN 1362 |
| Themes | Authors | Children | Commemoration | Famous people | Men | Saints | Teachers | |
Don Bosco
John Bosco, commonly known as Don Bosco, was born on August 16, 1815, in Becchi, near Turin, Italy, to Francis and Margaret Bosco. Orphaned at the age of three, he grew up in poverty, which profoundly influenced his life and mission.
Early Life and Education:
- Challenges: Due to financial hardship, John was unable to attend regular school.
- Empathy: His own experiences with poverty led him to empathize deeply with other underprivileged boys.
Priesthood and Mission:
- Ordination: He was ordained as a priest on June 5, 1841.
- Mission: Instead of seeking comfort, Don Bosco chose to live among the poor street children of Turin, dedicating his life to their welfare.
- Work: His efforts took him to the streets, factories, and prisons where he encountered neglected and delinquent youth.
Foundation of Institutions:
- Beginnings: Despite initial hardships and lack of resources, Don Bosco persevered.
- Valdocco: He acquired a small plot of land outside Turin, at Valdocco, where he built a small shed that became the nucleus of his future institutions. Over time, Valdocco transformed into a town providing vocational training, education, and a supportive community for boys.
- Shrine: At the center of this complex, Don Bosco built a shrine dedicated to Mother Mary.
Salesian Society:
- Formation: Many of his boys joined his mission, leading to the establishment of the Salesian Society in 1859.
- Salesian Sisters: In 1872, he founded a similar society for women, known as the Salesian Sisters, to care for poor girls.
- Lay Collaborators: Don Bosco also organized his lay collaborators into a Salesian family.
Legacy:
- Death: Don Bosco passed away on January 31, 1888, in Valdocco.
- Global Impact: His vision and spirit have continued to flourish, with over 36,000 Salesians and Salesian Sisters working in more than 100 countries, especially in developing regions of Asia, Africa, and South America.
- Presence in India: The first Salesians arrived in India in 1906. Today, over 2,500 Salesians and Salesian Sisters serve in around 300 communities across India.
Acknowledgment:
- Text Contribution: Fr. Joseph Kezhakkekara s.d.b., Don Bosco Youth Animation-India.
Don Bosco’s legacy lives on through his profound dedication to the education and upliftment of underprivileged youth, making a lasting impact worldwide.