About us
We are religious men founded by St. John Bosco, the second largest Catholic religious order in the world.
Don Bosco gathered a number of priests and lay people together to found a religious congregation in the Catholic Church. He called this congregation the Salesian Society. It was named after St. Francis de Sales who was known for his kind and gentle manner, a trait which Don Bosco wanted his Salesians to acquire. He also chose Mary, Help of Christans, as the patroness of the Salesian Society.
` The Salesian Society represents the group which Don Bosco personally established to launch new approaches in new initiatives for the education of youth. Don Bosco’s spiritual Family share his educational method, popularly called "the preventive system". It is not a system at all, but a lifestyle, an educational approach, a pastoral method, and a spiritual heritage. Significantly, Don Bosco’s example and educational methods have inspired a Gospel lifestyle which leads to holiness of life, as witnessed in the lives of saints who have embraced Don Bosco's experience and made it their own.
The Salesians can be found worldwide in many different initiatives on behalf of young people: schools, oratories, youth centers, technical and professional training centers, parishes, foreign missions, and activities in the realm of mass media and social communications.
Our Ratisbonne community consist of clerical brothers, who are from different parts of the world. Our brothers are in the process of becoming a Salesian priest, so they study four years of theology in our study center. Our brothers desire to spread the Gospel throughout the world through the spirit of Don Bosco.
Our brothers in Ratisbonne have felt the call to priesthood. The Salesian priest is called to be a sign of Christ the Good Shepherd. Working together with the Salesian Brother, the Salesian Priest is ordained to serve the needs of the young to whom he is sent. His greatest gift is to bring them the sacraments, especially Reconciliation and the Eucharist.
As Salesian Priest our brothers are specifically trained to 'tune in' to the needs and interests of the young and they pay attention to their particular craving for understanding, love and guidance. Always young at heart, he becomes their friend!
It is a common sight to find a Salesian priest in all kinds of recreational settings with the young, involved in their leisure activities and helping them to prepare for the future through a solid Christian education with values that will last a lifetime.
The Salesian priest brings the church to the young through his presence in schools, parishes, youth centers, retreat houses, and in any worthwhile activity in which young people can be found.