Specialist topic….

DON BOSCO ….

Hi ! My name is John, but everyone calls me Don Bosco! I was born on 16th August 1815, a few miles from Turin. My parents: Francis and Margaret, are farmers; I have two older brothers, Anthony and Joseph.

Bedroom Kitchen Yard I’ve decided to tell you a bit about myself and invite you to have a look at my home Some places are especially important for me.

I was only two years old when my father died. As well as looking after us, my mother had to take over my father’s work in the fields. She was a strong woman… the farm work is hard and she cannot do it all by herself, so my brothers and I help her...

My bedroom... When I was about 9, I had a strange dream in this room......it stayed with me throughout my life!

I seemed to be somewhere close to my house in a very large school yard. “Not with punches, but with kindness will you win over these boys...” I was only nine years old... Who was asking me to do these impossible things??? There were lots of boys, some of them using bad language. When I heard those words I rushed at them, fists flying. Just then a Man appeared...

He replied: “I am the one your mother taught you to greet three times a day. Ask your mother what my name is.” Suddenly there appeared a woman of majestic appearance. I was confused…she called me towards her and took me by the hand. I noticed that all the fighting boys had disappeared, and in their place I saw animals: goats, dogs, cats... She said: “Make yourself humble and strong… what you see happen to these wild animals, you will have to do for my children.”

I turned around and saw that the wild animals had changed into playful lambs... I did not understand at all… I asked the woman to put it more clearly...

Only many years later did I realise that in the dream a Jesus figure and Mary figure were showing me what I would do with my future life.

The kitchen was the heart of the house. This was where I learned the meaning of kindness, of patience… compassion to the stranger who knocked on the door asking for food... more than that, Jesus was practically one of the family. My mother, Margaret, knew loads of stories from the Bible and helped us to pray, remember God and respect each other… We could not go to catechism classes, so she taught us about God.

It was here that I began to build a simple but deep friendship with God within me. In my family I learned to respect and have confidence in God; an ‘everyday’ God, a normal part of life.

As I grew up, I came to understand that I had to pass on the love I had received from my earliest years to those young people who had no home, no family. Time flew by during my years at school and at last I came to put in to action my DREAM OF BECOMING A PRIEST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

After many years of study at the Seminary, I became a Priest. Turin had so many boys who needed a place to play and enjoy themselves, a place to be together and have fun. It’s difficult work and it has cost me tiredness and tears, but finally, one day... This is me

...a man called Pinardi heard that I was looking for a place where boys from the city centre could meet. He decided to offer me an old shed… On Easter Sunday 1846, after a lot of work to get the place ready, I finally managed to bring the lads to their new home. In those days it was called an Oratory.

Every young person could feel ‘at home’. By mixing up fun, reflection, games, prayers and singing, I have tried to pass on everything I learnt as a young person. Kindness, work, sharing, friendship with God and with others, dreams… Every boy who came to the Pinardi Shed could find all of this!

I have held on to one rule throughout this whole adventure: “Love what the young people love so that they will also learn to love what you love.”

Many young people decided to stay. They offered a ‘home’ to young people, learning from their early experience of being loved just as I had done... Many others chose to move on, taking with them the joy, the happiness and the mystery of their experience of gospel care for others. You too can help other young people to find their dreams, just as you have.

Today the work continues in over 132 countries is recognised in thousands of cities across the world The kindness of Salesian houses has saved many young people from sadness and violence

The word for breath and spirit are the same in the language of the Bible is the word for the breath of the Spirit

It helps us to remember four important things in working with young people: R espect U nderstanding A ffection H umour

Information input ends…

That’s all your information You now have 5 minutes to relax and remember as much as you can You can’t write anything down.

. Time up!

. Question! Don Bosco’s birthday is A December 8 th B January 31 st C August 16 th

. Question! The name of Don Bosco’s Father was A JOHN B FRANCIS C ANTHONY

Question! What age was John when his Dad died? A 2 years B 3 years C 4 years

. Question! In his dream, aged 9, John was told… A Not with punches but with prayer B Not with punches but with patience C Not with punches but with kindness

. Question! The God John learnt about from his mother was… A Distant B Ordinary C Like Ozzy Osbourne

. Question! In which city did Don Bosco start his work? A Rome B Milan C Turin

. Question! The shed that started the work was sold by a man called…. A Pinardo B Pinordi C Pinardi

. Question! The shed was first opened on.. A Christmas day B Easter Sunday C Pentecost Sunday

. Question! Don Bosco’s rule was……. A Love what you eat B Love what young people love C Love what young people reject

. Question! How many countries are the Salesians working in? A 102 B 132 C 123

. Question! How do you spell the word for Spirit A Rua B Ruah C Ruha

. Question! Don Bosco’s clubs were called.. A Laboratories B Oratorios C Oratories

. Question! The lady in the dream told John to be …. A Humble and strong B Gentle and kind C Humble and kind

. Question! The key Gospel image for Salesians is the …. A Good Samaritan B Good Shepherd C Good companion

. Question! Don Bosco died in A 1908 B 1898 C 1888

. Question! The R in RUAH stands for… A Reason B Religion C Respect

From a possible 17 points how many have you scored?

Can you stay in the pod?

Or have you become a lost sheep?

THE END