Our Patron: St. John Bosco (1815-1888)
Saint John Bosco, Popularly known as Don Bosco (Italian for Father Bosco), was born at Becchi, in Piedmont, Italy on August 16, 1815. From a very young age he had decided that he had been called to work for the poor boys of that era when Europe was under the grip of the Industrial Revolution. After being ordained Priest of the Catholic Church in 1841, Don Bosco came to the rescue of these poor boys with his novel method of educating youth through total dedication and personal involvement in their lives and problems.
To ensure that his total dedication to their cause shone through his actions, he based his education on the three great principles of Reason, Religion and Loving Kindness, loving those to whom he dedicated his life, as a caring father, and doing everything possible for their welfare. Don Bosco visualized a system of education in which one’s community, vocational guidance, training and job placement played a vital role.
The system of education that emerged from these principles of Don Bosco is popularly known as the Preventive System, and is the system that is practiced in St. Anthony’s College. It is a system that inspires love, confidence in the students and make the educator a friend guide and a mentor. The system aims to create a generation of young men and women steeped not only in sound knowledge-based education but also in a strong value-based education for life. And the motto of the college says it all: Excelsior: Ever More and Better Ever.