Province News, Salesian Cooperators

St. Dominic Savio Cooperator Center (EN) Welcomes Nine New Cooperators

By Judy Alvarez, Salesian Cooperator

(Bellflower, California) – On Sunday, March 15, at the 11:30 AM Mass at St. Dominic Savio Church, nine people will make their first Promises to God as Salesian Cooperators. For over two years, they were accompanied to discern their call to this unique vocation through formative classes and experiences. On Sunday, they will answer their call to live out the charism and mission of the Salesian Family of Don Bosco.

As the third branch of the Salesian Family founded by Don Bosco in 1876, Salesian Cooperators are Salesians in the World:

“Salesian Cooperators live out their faith in their own secular reality. Taking inspiration from Don Bosco’s apostolic project, they have a strong sense of communion with the other members of the Salesian Family. They commit themselves to the same mission to youth and to ordinary folk in a fraternal and united way. They work for the good of the Church and of society in a manner adapted to the educational needs of their territory and to their own concrete possibilities.” PAL Statutes, Art. 6

The St. Dominic Savio Cooperator Center (EN) joyously welcomes the following candidates who have already demonstrated a strong commitment to the Salesian Mission. They are:

  • Justin Fontenot – Theology Teacher and Campus Minister at St. John Bosco High School
  • Margarita Hernandez – Private School Educator, ADMA-Y Facilitator
  • Miriam Hernandez – Salesian Family Youth Center Board Member, Girl Scout Leader
  • Elizabeth Hunt – Dean of Academics and World Language Teacher, St John Bosco High School
  • Christina Mendoza – Outreach Program Coordinator, Salesian Family Youth Center, Public School Educator
  • Ivette Munoz – Public School Educator, Savio Catechist
  • Andres Ortiz – Site Coordinator, Salesian Family Youth Center
  • Benjamin Pluma – ADMA-Y Facilitator and new member of the Province Social Communications Team
  • Ricardo Quintero – Retired College Administrator and Founder and Coordinator of the Works of Mercy Outreach Ministry at the Don Bosco Mission Center

Special thanks to Formators Howard Hamel and Mikey Vera for their loving and skilled accompaniment in the two-year formation process, along with special Salesian speakers, and the support of members from the Savio Center.

All are invited to join the St. Dominic Savio parish community for this special celebration. Father Mel Trinidad, our Salesian Provincial, will be the Main Celebrant for the Eucharist. A reception will follow immediately after in the parish hall.

If you can’t make it, we ask you to keep our new Cooperators in your prayers at Mass this Sunday.

Mary Help of Christians, pray for us.