Plans for the Salesian Family

On the evening of June 24, feast of St. John the Baptist, with a beautiful moon shining brightly and a light breeze cooling the summer heat, I [Father John Baptist Lemoyne] accompanied Don Bosco to his room and stayed with him alone for about two hours. From the playground we could hear the muffled voices of youngsters cheerfully at play. Hundreds of tallow lights twinkled in colored glasses on windows and balconies throughout the house. A brass band, set in the center of the playground, now and then filled the air with joyful melodies. Don Bosco and I moved to the window and leaned against it, facing each other. The charming spectacle filled us with inexpressible joy. We could not be seen from the playground because we were in shadow, but now and again I would wave my handkerchief and the boys, spotting it, would break out into enthusiastic vivas for Don Bosco, prompting him to smile. We stood there a long time, silently absorbed in our thoughts. "What a beautiful evening!" I finally exclaimed. "Do you remember your old dreams? Here are the boys, priests and clerics Our Lady promised you." "How good the Lord is"' Don Bosco replied. "It is now some twenty years since you started, and no one has ever gone hungry! Everything began from nothing! How insignificant man is in these things. If our undertakings had had mere human origins, we would have failed a hundred times." "True, but that's not all. See how rapidly our Society is growing in membership and houses. Every day we say, 'Enough! Let us pause a while!' But a mysterious hand pushes us on." Don Bosco fixed his gaze on the rising dome of the new church as he spoke, and, recalling his former dreams, he kept staring at it. Bathed in moonlight, it loomed like a heavenly vision. His appearance at that moment seemed inspired. We fell silent again, prey to a thousand emotions. "Tell me, Don Bosco," I asked, breaking the spell, "don't you think something is wanting to complete your work?" "What do you mean?" "Won't you do anything for girls?" I went on after a moment's hesitation. "Don't you think that a congregation of nuns founded by you and affiliated to our Society would crown your work? Our Lord too had pious women following Him and ministering to His needs. They could do much for our poor boys. Besides, could they not do for girls what we are doing for boys?" I had hesitated to speak my mind because I feared that Don Bosco might oppose me. He remained pensive for a few moments and then surprised me by his answer. "Yes, this too will be done! We shall have nuns, but not yet. A little later." For the record, the nuns were formally established in 1872. BM chap. 35, p. 186-187

Keep in mind that Don Bosco’s love for the boys overflowed with initiative, that he would not leave young girls behind. The FMAs are proof of the encompassing Salesian Family, and thus, deserves equal love and understanding like that of your own community.

Article 5: Our Society in the Salesian Family “...[Don Bosco] himself founded not only the Society of St. Francis de Sales, but also the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians and the Association of Salesian Cooperators. These live in communion with each other, share the same spirit and, with specifically distinct vocations, continue the mission he began. Together with these groups and with others born later we make up the Salesian Family...”