Province News, Salesian Cooperators

Salesian Cooperators Congress 2025: Growth, Renewal & Election Update

By Judy Alvarez, SC – Updated Tuesday, October 14, 2025 –

(San Antonio, Texas) – On Friday, October 10, 2025, Salesian Cooperators in the USA Western Province arrived in San Antonio, Texas, to begin their Provincial Electoral Congress. In three-year intervals, Salesian Cooperator provinces worldwide convene to verify the life of the Association in the province, establish directives for the Provincial Council regarding mission and formation, and renew the members of the Provincial Council through an electoral process. The participants at an Electoral Congress include councilors of local centers, provincial councilors, and SDB and FMA provincial delegates (Regulations, Art. 28).

The gathering was truly a reunion of Salesian brothers and sisters whom we know through shared mission, virtual encounters, Cooperator inductions, and provincial and regional-level gatherings. It was a great gift to reunite in person and hear reports on the growth of our eleven local centers and receive the State of the Province report given this year by Dr. Alex del Carmen, Provincial Coordinator for 2022-2025. We also welcomed the presence and fraternal guidance of our Inter-America World Councilor, Martin Calderone, from Costa Rica.

USA West Salesian Cooperators Congress, San Antonio, Texas – participants gather after morning Mass for a group picture in the courtyard of the FMA Motherhouse. Our Regional Coordinator, Martin Calderone, kneels in the first row, in front of the FMA Province Delegate, Sr. Guadalupe Medina.

During the meeting, we had time to prayerfully discern the provincial councilors for the coming three years. Many thanks to the Salesian Family who prayed for the electors to be guided by the Holy Spirit and the hand of Mary Help of Christians.

We are happy to announce the twelve councilors elected (seen from left to right in the image above): Johann Uriarte, Patricia Barazza, Judy Alvarez, Michael Alvarez, Elisa Figueroa, Bertha Lopez, Susana Carrillo, Armando Gonzalez, Celia Velazquez, Julia Tafoya, Jenny Hernandez, and Elena La Rosa.

The first act of the Council was to choose the Provincial Coordinator and they elected Michael Alvarez, who is now working with the Council to sort other responsibilities for animating the province in the coming three years, 2026-2029.

Viva Don Bosco! Mary Help of Christians, pray for us!