FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ON THE SALESIAN VOCATION

‘SDB’ is the acronym for ‘Salesians of Don Bosco’.

To be a ‘Salesian of Don Bosco’ means to belong to a Catholic organization of men who dedicate their entire lives to God through a generous service to young people, especially those who are poorer and disadvantaged. This way of life entails professing the three vows, living in communities, educating and evangelising young people after the example of Don Bosco.

St. John Bosco, an Italian saint of the nineteenth century was called ‘Don’ Bosco by his boys because ‘Don’ in Italian means ‘Father’. Today he continues to be fondly remembered by the same name. He founded an organization that would take care of poor youth. He called his followers ‘Salesians’, a name he took from St. Francis de Sales, a popular saint of his native place in northern Italy. He chose St. Francis de Sales as the patron of his society and encouraged his followers to imitate the saint’s gentle humanism.

Yes there are other groups that use the name ‘Salesian’. St. Francis de Sales, a Doctor of the Catholic Church, gave birth to a unique school of spirituality which is generally referred to as ‘Salesian Spirituality’. Other groups that live this spirituality as their own also refer to themselves as Salesians. The title ‘Salesians of Don Bosco’ aims to clarify that its members live the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales according to the style and charism of Don  Bosco.

The ‘Salesians of Don Bosco’ is a non-profit organization. It is recognized by the Italian Government, as a juridical person for civil purposes under the title ‘Direzione Generale Opere Don Bosco’, and is situated in Rome, Via della Pisana, 1111.

The Salesians of Don Bosco are scattered in 129 countries across the globe. They number 16583. They serve young people in more than 2000 institutions.

No, the Salesians of Don Bosco do not marry. They live a consecrated life.

In the Catholic Church, one may decide to dedicate one’s life to God out of one’s own free will. This dedication is for the whole of one’s life through the public profession of the three vows, Obedience, Poverty and Chastity

The three vows are a sign that one wishes to place oneself totally at God’s disposal and at the service of His mission to make peace, truth, justice and love a reality in this world. By taking the vows, the person renounces some legitimate rights that every human being has – the right to choose and decide for oneself, the right to own possessions, the right to marry and beget children.

What is your logo and what does it mean?

Central Idea: Don Bosco and the Salesians walking with the young through the world.
An overall description :The LOGO of the Salesians of Don Bosco is made up of two superimposed images: in the background a stylised "S" (Salesians) in white is formed within a sphere like a globe marked to the right and left by two cuttings between the hills/dunes The second image is in the centre of the globe bridging the "S" road. This is an arrow pointing upwards resting on three perpendicular legs on top of which are three closed circles making a stylised image of three people: the first of these in the midde and taller than the others is the point of the arrow, and the other two beside it appear as it were to be embraced by the central figure. The three stylised figures with the arrow pointing upwards can also be viewed as a simple dwelling with a sloping roof (the arms) and with pillars holding it up (the bodies of the three people).

In the colour version the logo is in the single colour, WARM RED (6% cyan, 100% magenta, 82% yellow, 0 black).

The main sources of inspiration for these elements are the articles in the SDB Constitutions: 7, 21 and 38-40:

a) Don Bosco our model
"The Lord has given us Don Bosco as father and teacher. We study and imitate him, admiring in him a splendid blending of nature and grace. He was deeply human, rich in the qualities of his people, open to the realities of this earth; and he was just as deeply the man of God, filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and living "as seeing him who is invisible". These two aspects combined to create a closely-knit life project, the service of the young. He realized his aim with firmness, constancy and the sensitivity of a generous heart, in the midst of difficulties and fatigue. "He took no step, he said no word, he took up no task that was not directed to the saving of the young... Truly the only concern of his heart was for souls." (C21).

b) Presence among the young marked by reason, religion and loving kindness:
"Don Bosco has handed on to us his Preventive System as a means for carrying out our educational and pastoral service. "This system is based entirely on reason, religion and loving kindness." Instead of constraint, it appeals to the resources of intelligence, love and the desire for God, which everyone has in the depths of his being.
It brings together educators and youngsters in a family experience of trust and dialogue. Imitating God's patience, we encounter the young at their present stage of freedom. We then accompany them, so that they may develop solid convictions and gradually assume the responsibility for the delicate process of their growth as human beings and as men of faith (C 38).

c) Active journey involving the young:
"The practice of the preventive system demands a fundamental disposition on our part: an empathy with the young and a willingness to be with them: "Here in your midst I feel completely at home; for me, living means being here with you". We are actively present among youth in brotherly friendship, helping them in their efforts to grow in what is good, and encouraging them to cast off every form of slavery, so that their weakness may not be overcome by evil. This presence affords us a true understanding of the world of the young and unites us with them in all the healthy aspects of their restless energy. (C 39).

d) A home to meet, for education and evangelization.
"Don Bosco lived a pastoral experience in his first Oratory which serves as a model; it was for the youngsters a home that welcomed, a parish that evangelized, a school that prepared them for life, and a playground where friends could meet and enjoy themselves" (C 40).e) Effectiveness of the salesian charism in the world and in history. "Our vocation calls us to be deeply united with the world and its history. Open to the cultural values of the lands in which we work, we try to understand them and make them our own, so as to incarnate in them the message of the Gospel. The needs of the young and of working-class areas, the desire to work with the Church and in her name, inspire and shape our concrete pastoral activity so as to bring about a more just world and one of greater brotherhood in Christ." (C 7).

No, his is a life long dedication. The Catholic Church however requires that a candidate who seeks to be a member take the vows for a fixed period of time in view of offering his whole life in perpetuity. This period is called ‘temporary profession’. It culminates in the ‘perpetual profession’ about 7 years later.

To live as a consecrated person, that is, to profess the three vows and live this profession day after day, is certainly not an easy task. But it is possible with God’s grace, which is sought through constant and persevering prayer, the reception of the Sacraments and the observance of the SDB Constitutions. Lived in this way, in community together with other professed members, it is a life that is more than just ‘possible’. It is a life that is lived in joyful commitment to the establishment of God’s kingdom - a challenging yet joyful adventure indeed.

No, not all the Salesians of Don Bosco are priests. The vocation to be a Salesian of Don Bosco is lived in two distinct ways: as a Salesian Brother (also called the ‘Lay Salesian’, or ‘Salesian Coadjutor’) and as a Salesian Priest. Both these ways of being an SDB complement each other.

The Salesian Priest, like the Salesian Brother,takes the three vows of obedience, poverty and chastity, lives in community with his fellow Salesians, and engages in the same mission to the young modelling his life on Christ the Good Shepherd and making the example and educational system of Don Bosco his own. The difference is that he is involved in priestly ministry, especially by preaching the Gospel and administering the sacraments.

After having a discernment of one’s vocation for some time, one has to take the following steps to becoming a Salesian of Don Bosco:

-  the prenovitiate, a time for a deeper study of one’s initial choice of vocation and preparation for the novitiate;

-   the novitiate, the beginning of the experience of religious life;

-   the postnovitiate, which helps growth in an integration of faith, culture and life;

-   practical training, which aims at forging a personal synthesis out of an intense lived experience of Salesian activity, preferably among young people;

-    specific formation, which completes initial formation and in the case of clerics, continues until priestly ordination;

-    the period of preparation for the perpetual profession, which verifies the spiritual maturity required and leads to a definitive commitment.

Starting from the pre-novitiate, the time taken to becoming a perpetually professed member of the Salesian Congregation takes about 7 years. A Salesian Priest is usually ordained 4 years after he has made his perpetual profession.

Here are some significant signs of a vocation to be an SDB:
-    an earnest desire to follow Jesus more closely
-    a readiness for perpetual commitment by giving one’s whole life to God
-    a genuine love for young people and a desire to serve those who are poorer
-    a spirit of generosity and self-sacrifice, and a willingness to bear hardships
-    an ability to live in community, sharing everything with one’s brothers
-    an attitude of optimism, creativity and adventure

The minimum requirements for a person to become an SDB are as follows:
-    He must be 18 years of age.
-    He must be a Catholic.
-    He must have completed his secondary school education.
-    He must enjoy good health and be of good character.
There will be further requirements according to the policy of each Salesian province.

No. But they can form part of a sister organization that goes by the name of the ‘Daughters of Mary Help of Christians’ (Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice), or in short, FMA

Yes, they can. Besides the SDBs and the FMAs, Don Bosco created an association called the Salesian Co-operators. These are laypersons, single or married, who publicly promise to live the Salesian charism and spirituality in their everyday lives. They carry out the vocation to be good and dedicated Catholics, as they follow the Salesian vocation. More information on the Salesian Co-operators may be found at: http://cooperatori.sdb.org

Don Bosco was eager to have his own pupils collaborate in his mission to poor youth after they left his educational institutions and entered the world of work. Thanks to the initiative of his former pupil, Carlo Gastini, he was able to realize his dream. Eventually the World Confederation of Past Pupils of Don Bosco was born. The Confederation has a male and female branch. Both are recognized as world civil associations. Membership is open to all the pupils of Salesian schools run by the SDBs and the FMAs. For more information contact: exallievi@sdb.org if you are an SDB past-pupil or g.eramo@tiscalinet.it if you are an FMA past pupil.

Yes. One can take the three vows of obedience, poverty and chastity and still live as individuals in the midst of the world. Women who wish to live this kind of life are called Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB). More information about them is available at: www.volontariedonbosco.org . Men who wish to live this kind of life are called Volunteers with Don Bosco (CDB). For more information visit their site: www.volontaricondonbosco.org

There are thousands of people the world over who do not profess the Catholic faith, but closely collaborate in Don Bosco’s mission. Some are Past Pupils who may or may not be registered as members of the Confederation. Many others are collaborators by virtue of their employment in Salesian institutions, and give of their best even as they are paid for their services. Still others generously give of their time and talents to create a healthier environment for young people in the countries in which they live. Collaboration in Don Bosco’s mission is an open invitation to all those who believe in the educational development of young people. If you wish to get involved, contact the nearest Salesian institution for details.

Altogether there are 21 groups that are officially part of the worldwide Salesian Family – this number includes the SDBs, the FMAs, the Salesian Co-operators and the two branches of the Confederation of Past Pupils. Don Bosco’s charism continues to inspire many people of good will. There are at present  27 other groups that are seeking membership within the Salesian Family. Take a look at the complete list of Salesian Family Members.

What are the signs which help me identify if I have a Vocation to Salesian Way of life?