Rome (Italy). On 13 December 2022, the 1st Online World Meeting was held for diocesan priests and deacons who began the formation course as aspirants or have already made the Promise in the Association of Salesian Cooperators for some time, with the World Delegates of the ASSCC, Sr. Lucrecia Uribe; FMA, and Mr. Domenico Nguyen, SDB; Mr. Antonio Boccia, World Coordinator; and some World Councilors. There were 17 participants from Italy, Spain, Ireland, Germany.

The meeting, carried out via the Zoom platform, had the aim of promoting mutual knowledge and strengthening the sense of belonging to the Association, in light of the Christmas season.

Don Bosco conceived the Association open to both laymen and secular clergy. The Salesian Cooperators, bishops, priests or secular deacons, carry out their ministry inspired by the pastoral charity of Don Bosco, a model of priestly life which privileges commitment to young people and working-class environments (cf. Project of Apostolic Life, Art. 3).

In the world there are over fifty diocesan priests and deacons, who undertake the formation course and make the Promise to seal their membership in the Association of Salesian Cooperators. They carry out Oratories, manage the Diocesan Caritas, have commitments within the Conferences of Bishops. In East Asia, someone has received the consecration as Bishop, with the possibility of spreading Don Bosco’s charism and making the Salesian Family visible in the various parishes.

Among the Permanent Deacons, there are those who have a large family, and are committed in their parish to proclaiming the Word and serving the poor, as well as carrying out their work profession.

At the end of the meeting, the decision was made to hold two such meetings a year: after Easter and before celebrating Christmas.

Greeting the participants, the World Delegates wished, “As for the shepherds of Bethlehem, may your eyes also be filled with amazement and wonder, contemplating the Son of God in the Child Jesus. And, before Him, may the invocation, “Show us, Lord, Your mercy and give us Your salvation” (Ps 85:8)”.