Turin (Italy). From 26 to 29 May 2022, the meeting of the World Council of Salesian Cooperators took place in Valdocco, Turin, again in presence after two years of online meetings due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Present at the meeting were Sr. Leslye Sandigo, Councilor for the Salesian Family of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and Sr. Carmen Lucrezia Uribe, World Delegate of the Association of Salesian Cooperators; Fr Joan Lluis Playa, Central Delegate of the Rector Major for the Secretariat for the Salesian Family; and the Salesian Brother Dominic Nguyen, World Delegate for the Salesian Cooperators and the Past Pupils of Don Bosco.
The program included, in addition to the organizational work, the sharing of formative moments, with interventions by Fr. Morand Wirth, Salesian of Don Bosco, scholar of Saint Francis de Sales, who explored some aspects related to the laity according to the Saint, in the celebration of the 400th anniversary of his death (1622-2022). Half a day was also dedicated to visiting “Don Bosco House Museum” in Valdocco.
During the meeting, the Councilors elected the Administrator and the World Secretary of the Association of Salesian Cooperators:
Raul Fernández, Councilor of the Iberian Region as Administrator, and Carlo Pellegrino, Councilor of the Italy Middle East Malta Region, as Secretary. On this occasion, the outgoing Administrator and Secretary, Cinzia Arena and Filippo Servilli, were thanked for their prompt service and expertise.
The concluding Eucharistic Celebration in the Basilica of Mary Help of Christians, Sunday 29, was presided over by Fr. Joan Lluìs Playà, who linked the liturgy of the Ascension of the Lord with the commitment of the Salesian Cooperators to bring everywhere the testimony of the Gospel according to Salesian style.
At the conclusion of the Council meeting, the Vicar of the Rector Major, Fr. Stefano Martoglio, highlighted the accompaniment of the SDB and FMA Delegates starting from their own vocational identity, as a gift for the Charism.
“Having prayed at the foot of the picture of the Help of Christians near Don Bosco’s casket gave us the enthusiasm necessary to be able to offer the best of ourselves at the service of the Association of Salesian Cooperators, so that each one can bring to young people the always abundant fruits of our lay charism. We are all unanimous in saying that this is done ‘only through love and nothing through constraint’,” underlines Antonio Boccia at the end of the experience.
Source: ANS
