FMA Sisters

The Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, formally known as the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Italian: Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice; abbreviated FMA) are a female religious institute formed by Saint Maria Domenica Mazzarello in 1872. They were founded to work alongside Saint John Bosco and his Salesians of Don Bosco in his teaching projects in Turin. They continue to be a teaching order worldwide.

We, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians also known as FMA or the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco are proud to belong to a vast movement known as Salesian Family. Our Institute was founded in 1872 by St. John Bosco and St. Maria Domenica Mazzarello through the direct intervention of Mary and as a response to the profound hopes and aspirations of young people (C1). We commit ourselves to educating and serving young people of all ages especially the poor and marginalised. Our Educative mission is carried on in the style of Don Bosco’s Preventive System based on Reason, Religion and Loving Kindness. We also assist women and young people at risk and accompany them in their search for meaning in life.

Our Institute numbers nearly 14,523 world-wide and is the second largest Community of Religious Women in the world. We are consecrated to God, unafraid of confronting the challenges encountered in the world of youth. A simple but deep prayer life, a strong community life, and a youth-centered ministry energise us to face life’s challenges in order to bring about a more just and humane society.

Identical is their motto: Da mihi animas, caetera tolle (Give me souls, take away the rest). Identical is their spirituality: intense fervor in their work. “So much work to do,” as Pius XI remarked. This was to be the distinguishing mark of all who work with St. John Bosco. Work done in union with God would be transformed into one continuous prayer. A new formula of prayerful work would succeed St. Benedict’s ‘Pray and Work’. They have the same educative system, based on kindness and meekness, in which the sacrifice of their lives is hidden, by their happiness and joy: the Preventive System of Don Bosco.