Salesian Philosophy of Education
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles, through the insistence of Cardinal MacIntyre and the present Cardinal, Roger Mahony, entrusted Bishop Mora Salesian High School to the care and spirit of the Salesians of Don Bosco as a way of building up the faith community of East Los Angeles, especially the young.
Da mihi animas, catera tolle... "Give me souls, take away the rest" was the motto of Don Bosco when describing his work with the young. The Salesian gift to the Church is its unswerving focus on the betterment of each young person through the education of the whole person. Salesian High School continues the work of Don Bosco seeking to educate the young in Boyle Heights. Therefore an education at Salesian High School has as its primary focus the building of a Christian family that has as its ultimate aim the education of the young in order for them "to become good citizens of this world and the next."
It is through a Salesian style of reason, religion, and loving kindness that the school builds community and enables that community to educate the young. By reason, we mean an awareness of the concerns and preoccupations of the young through a process of dialogue promoting a sense of equality and mutual growth. By religion, we mean our personal relationships with God that keeps us mindful of relationships with others. By loving kindness, we mean lovingness to a degree where the young know they are loved.
"Don Bosco lived a pastoral experience in the first Oratory which serves as a model; it was for the youngsters a home that welcomed, a parish that evangelized, a school that prepared them for life, and a playground where friends could meet and enjoy themselves." (Constitution 40) As Salesian High School carries out its mission today, the Oratory model is still the lasting criterion in our discernment and renewal.
As an educative community, Salesian High School strives to focus its attention and efforts on preparing the young to be actively involved in the Church and society by means of their contributions as leaders, brothers, and ministers. Our academic courses supply these young people with the knowledge necessary to integrate their faith and culture. Since academics alone do not fully prepare the young for total participation in today's world, an underlying thrust of Salesian High School is to assist each young person to a higher awareness of self by educating the whole person.
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