(ANS – Rome) – Just two months remain before the VI World Congress of the Association of the Salesian Cooperators—the third group of the Salesian Family, desired and founded by Don Bosco himself—which will take place at Fraterna Domus, near Rome, from May 7 to 10, 2026. The event will be a moment of great significance for the entire Association, offering a privileged opportunity to recognize the legacy received and to renew the commitment to live the Salesian lay vocation in daily life, at the service of young people, families, and communities.
Celebrating an Anniversary and Looking Ahead
The Congress is part of the celebrations marking the anniversary of the Association’s foundation and will give participants the chance to retrace its historical journey while outlining future directions for the mission of the Salesian Cooperators worldwide. “It will be a moment to celebrate 150 years while looking to the future of the Association, remembering the path already traveled, as witnesses of a vocation of lay people committed in the Church and in daily life, at the service of young people,” commented Italo Canaletti, Councillor for the Region of Italy – Middle East and Malta.
A Four-Day Thematic Journey
The Congress program will unfold across four thematic days, designed as a progressive journey of reflection and dialogue.
First Day – A Journey Already Traveled
Thursday, May 7 will be dedicated to the theme “A Journey Already Traveled.” The opening day will revisit the history and development of the Association over its 150-year existence. Following the inaugural ceremony and the Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Rector Major of the Salesians, Fr. Fabio Attard, participants will attend a keynote presentation entitled “150 Years Building a Better World,” followed by a roundtable discussion on the life and spiritual legacy of Don Bosco. The day will continue in language groups to encourage dialogue among the diverse cultural contexts represented.
Second Day – Looking Within the Association
Friday, May 8 will focus “inward” on the Association itself, exploring identity, vocation, and internal challenges that Salesian Cooperators face today across different parts of the world. Contributions will include representatives of the Salesian Family, including Mother Chiara Cazzuola, FMA, along with a presentation on the current state of the Association. The day will conclude with regional discussions and an assembly to gather shared reflections and perspectives.
Third Day – Looking Outward to the World
Saturday, May 9 will turn the focus “outward,” examining the presence and role of Salesian Cooperators in society. The theme will highlight being “leaven in the world,” particularly among young people, families, and the elderly. Activities include a roundtable discussion with young people from different continents, followed by work sessions by geographic area to reflect on how the Association can continue to be a living sign of the Salesian charism in diverse cultural and social contexts. The day will also mark the 150th anniversary of the Association and include one of the Congress’s most significant institutional moments: the appointment of the new World Coordinator by the Rector Major. The day will conclude with a Via Lucis and a moment of fraternal celebration.
Fourth Day – A Journey Yet to Be Traveled
The final day, Sunday, May 10, will focus on the future under the theme “A Journey Yet to Be Traveled.” Following greetings from the World Coordinator, delegates will reflect on votes and programmatic guidelines guiding the six-year period 2026–2032. The Congress will culminate with a community Eucharistic celebration, the high point of the event, symbolically sending forth participants to continue the mission across many regions of the world.
Through the VI World Congress, the Association of the Salesian Cooperators seeks to renew enthusiasm for its vocation and strengthen the commitment to being a living presence of the Don Bosco charism in contemporary society.