Baumkirchen (Austria). From 8-10 November 2025, 29 members of the Councils of the 6 Provinces of the Salesian Cooperators (SSCC), belonging to France, Northern and Southern Belgium, Austria, Germany, and Ireland, met for the Elective Congress in Baumkirchen, at Saint Teresa of Avila House of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of Saint Mary Domenica Mazzarello Province (AUG).
The meeting was also attended by some members of the World Executive Secretariat, the World Coordinator, Antonio Boccia, with his wife Franca, the World Delegates, Domenico Nguyen, Salesian Coadjutor, and Sister Lucrecia Uribe, FMA. The objectives were:
- evaluate the situation of the Region at the end of the six-year period;
- outline the programmatic guidelines for the Association’s journey over the next six years;
- elect the new World Councilor of the Region;
- elect the regional secretary, regional administrator, and the formator to support the Regional Council.
The Region presents a strong apostolic and charismatic dynamism despite the advanced age of many of its members, who wish to transform this aspect into a challenge. They consider it, not as a weakness but as a grace of memory and fidelity, since each of them has lived a precious experience and has a spiritual and pastoral treasure to share. It was therefore proposed to value their testimonies, writing their stories, and entrusting them with prayerful intentions and to create intergenerational teams, favoring aspiring young people and forming alongside them. They want to adapt the mission to each individual’s possibilities, entrusting them with “mentoring” roles, that is, spiritual accompaniment and formation.
On Sunday 10 November, after a time of discernment and sharing, the election took place of the new Adviser, Mr. Jan Daems, belonging to Northern Belgium, who was serving as Secretary in the Regional Secretariat. The new Regional Secretariat was subsequently established, and at the end of the evening, the Congress closed, thanking Ms. Bárbara Klose for the organization, who thus completed her service as Councilor of this Region for a period of eight years.
All participants returned to their own realities with the certainty that the members of the Association of Salesian Cooperators carry out their mission in this part of Europe, seeking to be salt and leaven in the various social and ecclesial conditions present.
