From the earliest days of Don Bosco's work he was keen to accept the help of any people who were willing to offer. Amongst his earliest helpers were a number of priests of the Turin diocese, the mothers of some of his boys, his own mother, Mama Margaret, and any other number of other local people who could see how valuable Don Bosco's work for these poor boys was. These early 'co-operators' were soon made an official group and the tradition continues to this day.

When Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello founded the Salesian Sisters 'to do for girls what the Salesians were doing for boys' the Salesian family was becoming a reality.

Today the Salesian family is a vast network of priests, religious and lay-people who work in the tradition and spirit of Don Bosco for the good of the young. There are actually 23 groups officially in the Salesian Family but there are many others who would consider themselves as part of our family. Below we profile some of the groups that meet and work in the UK.

Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB)

The Salesians of Don Bosco are a congregation of priests and brothers founded by Don Boscoto continue his work after the saint's death. St Don Bosco's death in 1888 there were 773 Salesians in only a handful of countries of Europe and South America. Today there are over 16,000 Salesian priests and brothers on five continents and 127 countries. Wherever they are Salesians are found working with young people in schools, youth centres, oratories and many other projects.

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Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA)

Salesian Sisters

The Salesian Sisters were co-founded by St Mary Mazzarello and St John Bosco in order to do for girls and young women what Don Bosco was doing for boys. Mary Mazzarello died in 1881 leaving behind a young congregation with 26 houses and 166 sisters - including several missionaries to South America. Today there are over fifteen thousand Salesian Sisters in many countries over five continents.

In the UK the Salesian Sisters run many youth projects including schools and a retreat centre.

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Salesian Cooperators

The Salesian Cooperators are among the largest groups of the Salesian family. These are people from all walks of life who carry on the traditions of the 'Mothers of the Oratory' and the hundreds of other lay people and clergy who helped Don Bosco in his works during the early years. Today there are over 35,000 Salesian cooperators in the world and wheresoever one finds Salesians of Don Bosco one invariably finds a group of cooperators in the local community who share their mission.

Salesian Volunteers

Don Bosco built a whole religious family through inviting older young people to minister to those younger than them at his Oratory. Many of these 'peer leaders' became the first Salesians and the ones who would carry Don Bosco's dream around the globe. In this tradition of 'Young leading the young' Savio House has for many years had a community of Salesian volunteers who make a commitment to share in our mission to the young for one or more years.

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