St. John Bosco and St. Mary Mazzarello's Vision at Work Today
VIDES+USA strives to follow the examples given to the Salesian family by St. John Bosco and St. Mary Mazzarello.
Using the "Preventive System", a method of education formed by Don Bosco, we strive to approach our missions keeping in mind his three pillars: Reason, Religion and Loving-kindness. Seeking to be companions for those we serve, we choose to focus on prevention - forming convictions in those we serve based on love and example, rather than fear. As companions for the young, VIDES strives to work as a team united to help the youth become the best they can be.
Following the ideals of "Accompaniment", practiced by St. Mary Mazzarello, we at VIDES strive to form personal and meaningful relationships by being present to those we serve. By shifting our focus to creating dynamic interpersonal relationships, we are able to offer the safety and comfort of an authentic relationship to those we accompany. Guiding our companions to a full life in Christ we strive to establish confidence, lead them to discover the truth of self, and introduce them to true freedom, the freedom to love.
As VIDES members we strive to be friends and companions for the journey.
Learn more about Saints Don Bosco and Mary Mazzarello in the short bios and links below...
Using the "Preventive System", a method of education formed by Don Bosco, we strive to approach our missions keeping in mind his three pillars: Reason, Religion and Loving-kindness. Seeking to be companions for those we serve, we choose to focus on prevention - forming convictions in those we serve based on love and example, rather than fear. As companions for the young, VIDES strives to work as a team united to help the youth become the best they can be.
Following the ideals of "Accompaniment", practiced by St. Mary Mazzarello, we at VIDES strive to form personal and meaningful relationships by being present to those we serve. By shifting our focus to creating dynamic interpersonal relationships, we are able to offer the safety and comfort of an authentic relationship to those we accompany. Guiding our companions to a full life in Christ we strive to establish confidence, lead them to discover the truth of self, and introduce them to true freedom, the freedom to love.
As VIDES members we strive to be friends and companions for the journey.
Learn more about Saints Don Bosco and Mary Mazzarello in the short bios and links below...
Saint John Bosco
St. John Bosco, or "Don Bosco", Founder of the Salesian Society, was born in 1815 in Piedmont, Italy. Fatherless by the age of two, Bosco was educated by his saintly mother, Mama Margaret, and a friendly priest, impressed by the young boy's mind and heart.
After working and studying hard to continue his education and enter the priesthood, Don Bosco began his ministry as a young priest among the poor, working boys of Turin who suffered great injustices in the midst of the Industrial Revolution. Following the example of St. Francis de Sales (for whom the Salesians are named) and using his natural gift as a performer he began to draw large groups of these boys to himself.
With these first groups of boys he established "Oratories", informal places for young men at risk to safely enjoy recreation and receive both religious, scholarly and trade educations. The oratories flourished and grew into something revolutionary - it was from these first oratories that the Salesians grew. Instead of relying on adults, Don Bosco had confidence in his boys and placed them as the foundation for the new order - now known for their loving compassion and dedication to the young all over the world.
Due to his sanctity and unique way of educating the young, Don Bosco is admired and followed even today. His method of education, the "Preventive System", is based on: reason, religion and loving-kindness.
After working and studying hard to continue his education and enter the priesthood, Don Bosco began his ministry as a young priest among the poor, working boys of Turin who suffered great injustices in the midst of the Industrial Revolution. Following the example of St. Francis de Sales (for whom the Salesians are named) and using his natural gift as a performer he began to draw large groups of these boys to himself.
With these first groups of boys he established "Oratories", informal places for young men at risk to safely enjoy recreation and receive both religious, scholarly and trade educations. The oratories flourished and grew into something revolutionary - it was from these first oratories that the Salesians grew. Instead of relying on adults, Don Bosco had confidence in his boys and placed them as the foundation for the new order - now known for their loving compassion and dedication to the young all over the world.
Due to his sanctity and unique way of educating the young, Don Bosco is admired and followed even today. His method of education, the "Preventive System", is based on: reason, religion and loving-kindness.
Saint Mary Domenica Mazzarello
St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello, the Foundress of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), was born on May 9, 1837 in the rugged hills of Mornese in Northern Italy to a farming family.
With a deep love for our Lord and a dream of serving the poor girls of her time, Mary Mazzarello set out to change the lives of countless children. With a bold determination to serve, she opened her own business as a seamstress and used her position to teach young girls a trade and the Christian doctrine - little did she know that this work would serve as a start for something much bigger...
Though unaware of it, what Mary was doing for needy girls in Mornese was similar to Don Bosco's efforts among boys in Turin. Don Bosco, recognizing Mary's natural gifts as a leader and her "creative fidelity" to what he was teaching, placed Mary Mazzarello at the core of his new order for women religious: the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians.
Leading with great faith, simplicity, warmth and humility, Mary Mazzarello lives on as a true illustration of leadership and Christ-centered service. Dedicated to being truly present in the lives of those she served, she is an example of how to establish authentic relationships by implementing her ideas of "accompaniment" to lead others to a full life in Christ...
With a deep love for our Lord and a dream of serving the poor girls of her time, Mary Mazzarello set out to change the lives of countless children. With a bold determination to serve, she opened her own business as a seamstress and used her position to teach young girls a trade and the Christian doctrine - little did she know that this work would serve as a start for something much bigger...
Though unaware of it, what Mary was doing for needy girls in Mornese was similar to Don Bosco's efforts among boys in Turin. Don Bosco, recognizing Mary's natural gifts as a leader and her "creative fidelity" to what he was teaching, placed Mary Mazzarello at the core of his new order for women religious: the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians.
Leading with great faith, simplicity, warmth and humility, Mary Mazzarello lives on as a true illustration of leadership and Christ-centered service. Dedicated to being truly present in the lives of those she served, she is an example of how to establish authentic relationships by implementing her ideas of "accompaniment" to lead others to a full life in Christ...