The spirit of Don Bosco

Don Bosco has been dead for 120 years - he died on January 31, 1888 - but his spirit is very much alive in Malta thanks to the Salesians, who were founded in Malta in 1903.

This year is a special one for the Salesians as they are celebrating the centenary of the setting up of the oratory, where a host of activities are held for youths of all ages.

"Don Bosco used teaching methods based on love rather than punishment and is the only saint with the title 'Father and Teacher of Youth'," Fr Charles Cini, coordinator of fund-raising and cultural events, said.

A collection of paintings of Don Bosco by Maltese artists hangs proudly in prominent places at St Patrick's School, in Sliema, where the Salesians established themselves in Malta in 1903. What was their first home now caters for 80 students and 30 borders, aged nine to 16.

"Though it was Alfons Maria Galea who managed to convince the Salesians to come to Malta and Don Rua, Don Bosco's successor, came here twice, the first letter inviting Don Bosco to send Salesians to Gozo was written by Bishop Pietro Pace. I have found the letter in the archives of Don Bosco and Bishop Pace had asked Don Bosco to consider opening a trade school in Gozo. Don Bosco wrote a minute on the letter saying 'We will go to Malta but not yet'," Fr Cini said.

"Don Bosco was a great man. His life is chronicled in 19 volumes. Don Bosco is known as the father and teacher of youth. He was deeply human, 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.

"These two aspects combined to create a closely-knit life project, the service of the young. He realised his aim with firmness, constancy and the sensitivity of a generous heart, in the midst of difficulties and fatigue. His first successor, Don Michael Rua, used to say: 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," Fr Cini said.

The Salesians were founded in January 1854 and today there are in excess of 400,000 members in the service of young people.

"In Salesian tradition, affection has always been manifested without shame, almost with youthful enthusiasm," Fr Cini said.

The Maltese Salesians have been in Tunisia since January 1989, where they now run a primary school for 750 Tunisian children.

They have also been asked to take charge of the church of St Philip and the adjacent residence in Senglea, from where they plan to launch an evangelisation project addressed to all, particularly to young people.

They also run the Osanna Pia hostel in Sliema and the oratory, which embraces a Juniors' Club, a Youth Centre, a Boys' and Girls' Brigade and also run a theatre. In Dingli, the Salesians run Savio College.