By: Tracey Becker

“Hey you!” Fr. John cried. “What are you doing over there?”

“Nothing.” Sam hid his hands in his pockets.

“Show me what’s behind your back.” Fr. John Bosco said kindly.

Sam sighed. He pulled out an apple and a bread roll.

“Where did you get this food?” Fr. Bosco asked.

Sam pointed to food stand. “Let’s go talk to the man at the food stand.”

“No! No!” Sam yelled but John had a tight hold on his hand.

To Sam’s surprise, John paid the man for the stolen food and bought an apple for himself. The man just looked at Sam, but Sam looked away.

“Come with me,” Fr. Bosco said with a smile.

                                     

  Soon John Bosco had many boys following him to the big tree. He knew they needed a place to stay, and more than just apples to eat. He asked the town people if they would help him, but the people said “I’m not helping you with these boys! They steal, they play tricks on me, they are not nice!” Fr. John Bosco tried to tell them that these boys had changed, but no one would listen.

   One day a very rich lady said, “I have a small house that you can use to teach them. They can sleep here and I will help you feed them.” At last!

  But soon there were so many boys that they had to find a bigger house. Eventually he had to split them up into smaller houses. The people in the towns noticed that the boys who liked to make trouble were growing up into fine young men. They went to church, they helped their neighbor, and were good husbands and fathers. Some became good priests. Soon people began helping Fr. John Bosco. They might help teach, or provide some food from their crop, or give him money to provide clothing, etc.  Soon these good people were given a name – the Salesians.