Bosco House

St Don Bosco and also known as John Bosco was born on 16 August 1815, Piedmont, Italy. His father died when he was two years old and, at the age of twelve, John went to live and work on a farm in a nearby village. At 15 he left for the town of Chieri, where he attended school. After school he took on every job he could find, learning a number of trades: tailor, carpenter, blacksmith, waiter – anything for a little money to buy food or clothing. In 1835 he entered the seminary. Six years later he was ordained a priest. He gathered other man and women to work with him and he established the society under the protection of Francis de Sales and so his followers became known as the Salesian Society that has become one of the largest religious congregations in the Catholic Church with over 17,000 members. John Bosco was known as a great educator who put his religion into practice employing teaching methods based on love rather than punishment. His Salesians set up schools as well as special homes for orphaned or neglected boys. Bosco died on 31 January 1888, and, in recognition of his work with disadvantaged youth, he was canonized by the Catholic Church in 1934. His feast day is January 31.

His Passion – John Bosco’s capability to attract numerous boys and adult helpers was connected to his ‘Preventive System of Education’. He believed education to be a ‘matter of the heart’, and said that the boys must not only be loved, but know that they are loved. He also pointed to three components of the Preventive System: reason, religion, and kindness. Music and games also went into the mix.

The Link with GYC – The Glenorchy campus is on the site of what was, at one stage, Dominic College that was run jointly by the Dominican Sisters and the Salesians. Paul Kowalik was a Salesian priest on the original staff of Guilford Young College.

The Implication for GYC – St John Bosco saw the importance of education and that good relationships between students and staff were so essential. We at Guilford Young College are invited to develop a spirit of great trust and co-operation to ensure that the process of teaching and learning is effective and enjoyable.