OF THE SALESIAN COOPERATORS MISSION

OF THE ASSOCIATION OF THE SALESIAN COOPERATORS VISION

From its beginning, the ASC was established in conjunction with the Society of St. Francis de Sales and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, sharing in their apostolic charism, contributing in this way to the salvation of youth, the “most delicate and most precious portion of human society”.

From the very start, Don Bosco thought about organizing the “co- helpers” of his work. He invited lay people, men and women, and members of the diocesan clergy to “cooperate” in his mission of salvation of the young, especially of those who are poor and abandoned. (PVA Statutes, Preface)

MISSION

Why must we speak about “Vision” within the Association?

Vision = all of our dreams together which become the fuel and the guide for all the activities that we carry out.

SHARED VISION It is essential that the relationships within the Association change so that we can speak of a “shared vision”. We need to let go of thinking that we are “just members” and move toward speaking of the Association as “ours.” Sharing who we are and what we have, sharing what we hope to achieve and the goals we hope to reach, are the first steps we need to take to help our Salesian Cooperators align themselves with the Mission and with the Association.

The Mission of the Association: the reason for its Vision.  Our mission is marked with an ecclesial character (SPVA, Art. 1).  And it was founded to meet the needs of a particular group of persons (SPVA, Preface).

PRESENT CHALLENGES

Today we find ourselves living one of the most challenging times of our history. The world is at a crucial crossroad touching our very existence, on the verge of absolute domination of materialism. This reality both upsets and challenges us.

Recent decades have seen the advance of a spiritual “desertification”. Regrettably, we now see around us those things that mark a life or a world without God. The void has increased and spread. (Benedict XVI, Homily for the Opening of the Year of Faith)

Cultural Causes:  Secularism,  Materialism,  Consumerism,  A life without God,  Relativism.

Personal Temptations:  Individualism,  Activism,  Lack of interest,  Rifts,  Forgetfulness.

Problems within the Association:  Apathy  Negligence – a lack of clarity regarding the commitments undertaken  Conformism - Dependency  Weak structure of animation  Resistance to change  Style of work: an Association with an apostolate (mission) centered on “doing” and on “activities”.

Where do we see ourselves as an Association? What are we doing?

These difficulties are challenges, opportunities, and a source of motivation which the Lord offers us to illuminate our Association as to how to respond to what He hopes for from us.

We are called to discover God in everything. This is a constant invitation. On account of this closeness, we can look upon these challenges as also being opportunities for us to grow in faith, in ourselves, and in the Association.

Because of their “secular character” the lay Christian Faithful occupy a concrete place in the work of the Church – to make humanity more human. In no way can they abdicate their participation in economic, social, legislative, administrative, and cultural activities. They are fully included in the evangelizing mission of the Church. (cf. Christifideles Laici, 32-42).

THE FIELD OF APOSTOLATE FOR THE LAITY includes: politics, social realities, the economy, culture, the arts and sciences, the intellectual life, and the means of Social Communications; as well as, other realities which are particularly open to evangelization, such as: Married couples, conjugal life, the family, the education of children, work with adolescents and young adults; professional work, and suffering.

The PVA 1. calls us to build a meaningful ASC – to be a social, ecclesial, Salesian presence; 2. invites us to foster our vitality; 3. helps us to remember that before every Salesian Cooperator there is a mission to accomplish, in the name of the Church and for the sake of humanity; 4. calls us to work for our personal growth and the development of the Association; 5. demands that we be and do mission.

The great goal will be: to esteem the Project of Apostolic Life as a movement of the Holy Spirit which causes us to walk the path of rebirth as individual Salesian Cooperators and as a united Association.

The PVA invites us to take on life joyfully and gratefully, as an inviolable gift; to foster life with great passion, as a responsible service; and to defend the dignity and quality of every life and of all life with hope – above all, that of those who are weakest, poorest, and most defenseless.

We live in a unique moment of time in which we can generate a synergy among all of us – with confidence in the path which we have undertaken… the path of total renewal. “I encourage them to look toward the future of our Association with hope and with confidence.” We seek a “change” in this future which has already begun – a renewed style of being and doing, a renewed style of who we are and what we do.

More spiritual More evangelizing More communal More co-responsible More personalized More animating

The PVA calls for Salesian Cooperators of high quality today – a quality which cannot be skimped on, because it is rooted in the Lord and has an unquestionable guide: His Spirit. Yet, this level of quality requires “being” a type of lay person who is committed without duplicity, mediocrity, fear, or ambiguity.

We need to rethink who we are so as to achieve a more significant and consistent presence in the distinct areas of our mission. Beyond the apostolic work we have implemented, we absolutely must find a place where we can share our faith and our friendship, our love and our being brothers and sisters. Each one of our Centers is this place.

FORMATION

WE ARE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT LAY SALESIAN CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION ON THE WORLD, REGION, AND LOCAL LEVELS… WITH A PRESENCE IN SOCIETY AND IN THE CHURCH IN WHICH EACH SALESIAN COOPERATOR IS A MISSIONARY EVANGELIZING THE WORLD, LIVING HIS/HER SALESIAN IDENTITY AND SPIRITUALITY.

RECTOR MAJOR “I wish to see Salesian Cooperators being formed and bringing into existence a true movement, with great conviction, dedication, and socio-political commitment.”

“The work of the Cooperators will extend to all nations and will spread throughout all Christianity. The Hand of God upholds it! The Cooperators will succeed in fostering the Catholic spirit. Perhaps it’s my utopian vision; still, I’m holding onto it!” (Don Bosco, BM XVIII, p. 125)

THANK YOU GRAZIE MERCI GRACIAS