The Beginnings:

The origins of the province can be traced back to an apprenticeship home in Würzburg, which initially served as its sole establishment. Presently, it has evolved into the Caritas-Don Bosco gGmbH education centre. Within this institution, and in over 30 other locations across Germany, the German-speaking Swiss region, and Turkey, the Salesians of Don Bosco provide daily support to approximately several thousand children and young people. This support is facilitated by a dedicated workforce of approximately 2000 employees. Additionally, the Salesian employees of Don Bosco, along with numerous other committed volunteers, play a vital role in the organization’s success.

Activities:

The German Province places great importance on the educational and pastoral community within its institutions. This includes the young people themselves, their parents, all full-time and voluntary staff, interns, volunteers, those doing voluntary service, and the Salesians of Don Bosco, as well as possible members of other Don Bosco groups and alumni.

The ‘Don-Bosco-Werk’ (Don Bosco Foundation) in the German Province offers a wide range of tasks and places of work. They include youth and environmental education, youth welfare and social work, educational assistance, recreational care, and support for children and young people in daycares, vocational training facilities, and care for young unaccompanied refugees. They also provide activation and qualification measures for young people without a school diploma or profession, support for homelessness, care for young people with mental health issues, and parish and migrant pastoral care.

The Province supports educational and pastoral projects through solidarity-based initiatives, including emergency aid in crisis situations through missionary programs in Bonn and Beromünster. Since 2016, the Salesians of Don Bosco have been present in Istanbul, Turkey, where they primarily support young migrants, provide parish pastoral care, and educate children.

Five challenges of the Province:

1.   In line with Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato sí, the Don-Bosco-Werk is actively committed to the preservation of creation by integrating awareness-raising into pedagogy, pastoral work and organisation and implementing concrete projects.

2.   An increasing number of young people are suffering from anxiety, depression or other mental illnesses. The Don-Bosco-Werk develops services that meet the needs of these young people, whether through pastoral care, preventive measures, counseling, or support in crisis situations.

3.   Young people face the challenge of living democratic values in a polarised society. The Don-Bosco-Werk promotes the ability of young people to resolve conflicts peacefully and to actively engage for democracy and solidarity. In political education, we are guided by Catholic social teaching.

4.   Many young people live in precarious social conditions. The Don-Bosco-Werk gives them attention and spaces where they are welcome. Through flexible, needs-oriented offerings, their living conditions are to be improved, and new life perspectives opened up.

5.  The Don-Bosco-Werk seeks, trains and accompanies its employees so that they can be there for young people in the spirit of Don Bosco.

In all its activities, the German Don-Bosco-Werk pursues one goal: to help young people to succeed in life. Like Don Bosco, it starts with the situation of young people and supports them in coping with their lives so that they become ‘honourable citizens and good Christians’.

A brief statistical overview

Currently, 183 Salesians of Don Bosco reside in the German Province, including 138 priests, 37 brothers, one permanent deacon, and seven candidates for the priesthood—five with temporary vows and two with perpetual vows.

Among them, 52 priests are engaged in parish pastoral care, while 41 serve in migrant pastoral care, supporting mother-tongue missions for Chaldean, Italian, Croatian, Polish, and Vietnamese communities. Their primary mission is to reach out to children, young people, and their families, fostering "Salesian communities" where young people can learn to live self-determined lives rooted in faith and take on responsibilities in the Church and society in the spirit of the Gospel.

German Salesian Bishop Dr. Stefan Oster, appointed Bishop of Passau in 2014, is also dedicated to this mission. Additionally, three German Salesians serve as missionaries ad gentes, working with young people.

Don Bosco Volunteers

Another important figure is the approximately 90 young people who annually complete voluntary service with Don Bosco Volunteers in Don Bosco projects every year – in Germany or many Salesian provinces in Africa, Asia, South America and Europe. Together with the Salesians of Don Bosco, the Don Bosco Volunteers work worldwide for a future worth living for children and young people.

Don Bosco Foundation Centre

Also worth mentioning is the Don Bosco Foundation Centre in Munich, under whose roof more than 200 trust foundations and endowment funds have already been established, which actively support Salesian projects at home and abroad and enable activities with and for young people that could not otherwise be financed.

Conclusion

Through their diverse commitment, the Salesians of Don Bosco, together with their employees in the German Province – as well as worldwide – become advocates for children and young people and enable quick and effective help where poverty and need are often greatest.

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