Coat of Arms

The Salesian Sisters have a coat of arms which depicts our mission and our primary devotions. Below is a guide to the meaning behind each element of the Salesian Sisters’ Coat of Arms:

 

• The dove represents the Holy Spirit who is the source of the spiritual life that animates our Salesian mission.
• Mary Help of Christians, our Mother, directly intervened in bringing our congregation into existence.
• Lilies signify our consecrated chastity that enables us to give ourselves totally for the young.
• A forest is shown because of a play on words in Italian. “Bosco” means forest in Italian. This represents our co-founder, St. John Bosco.
• The outline of Mornese represents the early life of our co-foundress, St. Mary Mazzarello, who grew up in this humble town.
• The anchor stands for hope. We live this virtue trusting in Divine Providence, with courage and zeal like St. John Bosco.
• The star symbolizes the virtue of faith. This helps us to serve the Lord in joyful fidelity and to see holiness as achievable in everyday life.
• The heart represents the charity that Salesians have for the young people they serve.
• Roses symbolize the loving kindness that we learn from St. Francis de Sales, and which animates our relationships with one another and the young.
• The motto of the Salesian Congregation is "Da Mihi Animas Caetera Tolle!" This means: “Give me souls…Take away the rest!” It was the battle cry of St. John Bosco that he left us as his legacy.