Salesian Cooperators

Celebrating the Promise of New Salesian Cooperators

By Judy Alvarez

Rosemead, CA – On Sunday, June 23, the Salesian Cooperators of the Province of St. Andrew the Apostle in the Western United States were delighted to celebrate the Induction and first Promise of five new members for the worldwide Association of Salesian Cooperators.

“Entrance into the Association happens when the personal apostolic Promise is made. This apostolic Promise is a spiritual and ecclesial commitment which the Aspirant takes on through a free and knowledgeable choice. By means of it, he/she responds to the gift of the Lord and to his or her call to live this personal vocation according to the Salesian charism.” Project of Apostolic Life, Article 13.5

St. Dominic Savio Center, Bellflower, CA and St. Joseph Center, Rosemead, CA

Fr. Mel Trinidad, SDB, provincial, presided at the Eucharistic celebration and received the Cooperator Promise of Eloise Moraza and Dolores Lerma from St. Joseph’s Center in Rosemead and Julio Segura, Dr. Adrianna Segura, and Steven Herrera from St. Dominic Savio Center in Bellflower. Fr. Thien Nguyen, SDB, director of the local Salesian community at Don Bosco Technical Institute, concelebrated. Local coordinators, Howard Hamel, from St. Dominic Savio Center, and Dave Lerma from St. Joseph’s Center, and other members of the local centers also gathered for the celebration.

Being ready to make their Cooperator Promise was the fruit of a formation journey that included “prayer and study along with devoting an appropriate period of time to sharing our Salesian endeavors in order to ascertain that they have, in fact, been called to the apostolate of a Salesian Cooperator in the Spirit of St. John Bosco.” (Induction Ceremony)

Ana Uriarte, the provincial formator, attested to this preparation on behalf of the Provincial and Local Cooperator Councils. Fr. Mel Trinidad invited them “to pronounce publicly, in the presence of the Most Holy Trinity and this assembly, [their] promise to assume the responsibilities of a Salesian Cooperator.”

With thanksgiving to God for his goodness and love that called them to be a part of the Church and the apostolic family of Don Bosco, the candidates prayerfully declared their Promise to live out the Project of Apostolic Life of the Association of Salesian Cooperators with commitment, that is:

  • “To be a faithful disciple of Christ in the Catholic Church;
  • To work in Your kingdom, especially for the advancement and salvation of the young;
  • To deepen and give witness to the Salesian spirit;
  • To collaborate, in Family communion, in the apostolic initiatives of the local Church.”

The Salesian Cooperators in the Western United States warmly welcome our newest brothers and sisters in the Association of Salesian Cooperators. We look forward to continuing our journey with them in our call to holiness and service of the young and the poor.

Following the celebration of Eucharist and ceremony for induction, there was a joyous reception with cake and refreshments outside on the church lawn.

Viva Don Bosco!