Our Founding & Mission
“It is not enough to love the young; they must know that they are loved.”
Fr. Christopher Vaccaro, a priest of the Diocese of Arlington, founded the Associates of St. John Bosco in 2011 after witnessing how many young Catholics lose their faith during college. Named after St. John Bosco, we follow this saint’s example of guiding young people toward Christ.
We are a Catholic 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Northern Virginia, dedicated to helping students keep and grow their faith through three main initiatives:
College Division – Our College Nights connect incoming freshmen with Catholic peers and faithful resources to prepare them for a faith-filled college experience. We also offer year-long Associate and Ambassador Programs that form and train college students for leadership on their campuses and in the Church.
Scholarship Division – We provide scholarships for students of the Diocese of Arlington who intend to serve the Church through religious vocations or apostolic work after graduation.
RISE Awards – We incentivize creativity and ingenuity on college campuses to reach as many students as possible with the Truth of the Catholic faith.
ASJB equips young Catholics to remain steadfast in their faith, grow in virtue, and lead others to Christ through formation, mentorship, and creative evangelization.
“After attending one of the Associates of St. John Bosco’s events, I felt more equipped and ready to take on the challenges of school with a strong faith.”
Our Patron
St. John Bosco devoted his entire life to helping young boys in Turin become great lovers of the Church and of God. We seek to emulate his dedication to young people by forming them in the ways of the faith and in the practicals of his method of evangelization. In essence, our efforts are molding them into being Associates of St. John Bosco.