The Salesians of Don Bosco are an international organisation of Catholic priests and brothers who work with disadvantaged and marginalised young people. The Salesians first came to Australia in 1922, arriving in South Australia in 1938. The Salesians took over operation of the St John's Boys Town Home in Adelaide in 1942, following the suppression of the Order of Brothers of St John the Baptist, which had previously run the Home.
The Salesians of Don Bosco were founded by Italian Saint John Bosco in the mid-nineteenth century. The first Salesians came to the Kimberley region of Australia in 1922 and moved to Melbourne in 1927. Under the leadership of Father Joseph Ciantar, the Salesians expanded to South Australia from 1938.
Sources used to compile this entry: 'About Us - History in Australia', in Salesians of Don Bosco Australia-Pacific, Salesians of Don Bosco Australia-Pacific, https://www.salesians.org.au/about-us#salesian-history; George, Karen, Finding your own way, Nunkuwarrin Yunti of South Australia Inc., 2005, http://nunku.org.au/resources/.
Prepared by: Ann McCarthy
Created: 7 February 2011, Last modified: 5 February 2015
Last updated: 7 August 2023
Cite this: https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/sa/biogs/SE00038b.htm
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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