St. John was born August 16, 1815, at Becchi, Italy.  His life work was that of taking care of young boys and girls.  For this purpose he founded the Congregation of the Salesian Father in 1852 and the Daughters of Our Lady Help of Christians in 1872.  Such was his zeal for the welfare of young people that today there are over 1,400 of his institution spread over the earth.  He died in 1888 and was canonized by Pope Pius XI, Easter Sunday, 1934.
(Source: Fr. Lasance, The New Roman Missal)