This pioneer of modern education methods - and the first saint in history to give a press interview - was born in Piedmont, Italy, in 1815. After his ordination in Turin in 1841, he devoted himself to pastoral care among those seeking work in the newly industrialised city. “Don”, as he became known, gathered six abandoned boys into what he called an Oratory, where they attended chapel and classes. As the number gradually grew to over 800, he opened workshops for a range of trades, as well as a printing works and iron foundry. Girls were helped in a similar way when he established the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians.  

St John Bosco is recognised as one of world’s great “social saints”. Inspired by educational methods based on total love and dedication, he divided human needs into four fundamental spheres; home, school, Church and society. The experience of belonging and meaning within all these four is necessary if people are to be happy and fulfilled. The saint acquired his reputation for working miracles during the Turin cholera epidemic of 1854. He formed his boys into teams to carry the sick to hospital and the dead to the mortuary – with the loss of not one life.

In the same year, as a tribute to St Francis de Salles, John Bosco formed his Salesian Congregation - and the order today numbers some 17,000 members in 113 countries. When “Don” died in 1888, all Turin lined the streets for his funeral, and in 1934 he was canonised by Pope Pius X1. His feast day is 31 January.