(ANS – Sacrofano) – On the third day of the World Congress of Salesian Cooperators, participants gathered in Sacrofano to renew their lay vocation, strengthen the bonds of shared responsibility within the Salesian Family, and present the local Church with an Association that is more united, more missionary, and more capable of generating life.
As on previous days, the gathering began with Mass, but May 9, 2026, was no ordinary day. The joy that had already marked the Congress became even greater, transforming into a prayer and hymn of thanksgiving. The date marked the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Association and commemorated the moment when the Church finally approved John Bosco’s vision of including laypeople within the Salesian Family.
Although Don Bosco’s original project underwent several adjustments before receiving official approval, the essential goal remained unchanged: the salvation of young people.
On this anniversary, participants celebrated both continuity and renewal. The Pious Union of Salesian Cooperators, as Don Bosco originally called it, is today known as the Association of Salesian Cooperators, yet it continues to embody the founder’s dream: true Salesians living in the world, bringing the charism of St. John Bosco into their families, workplaces, service to young people, outreach to families, and care for the poor.
In the homily delivered by Fr. Pascual Chávez, Rector Major Emeritus, participants were reminded that the road ahead remains challenging, but above all that the true protagonist of the mission is the Holy Spirit, who opens both geographical frontiers and human hearts to the Gospel.
“What is asked of us,” emphasized Fr. Chávez, “is listening, docility, and collaboration.”
Listening became the central theme of the day’s proceedings, together with the Association’s outward focus on missionary commitment and the qualities that must define its future. A round-table discussion reflected this spirit, bringing together four participants from different parts of the world to discuss “A New Dynamic Among Young People, Families, and the Elderly.”
The atmosphere throughout the day was marked by reflection and hope, suspended between gratitude for the past 150 years and anticipation for the future of the Association.
Beginning at 6:00 p.m., anticipation grew as participants awaited the appointment of the new World Coordinator by the Rector Major, Fr. Fabio Attard. Those gathered eagerly wondered who would guide the Association forward in living and carrying out Don Bosco’s dream.
When Fr. Attard took the stage, silence filled the hall. Before announcing the new Coordinator, he stressed the importance of governance as a means of walking together, noting that without governance, there is only anarchy.
He identified four key words as the foundation for fruitful governance within the Association and the broader Salesian mission:
- Listening
- Communion
- Mission
- Participation
These four principles, he explained, provide Salesian Cooperators with a roadmap for their presence within the Association and in the world. Listening fosters humility, and humility—born from intimacy with God—allows individuals to become instruments of service. Such humility gives rise to communion and authentic participation: participation that leaves space for the Holy Spirit, avoids competition and elitism, and instead creates opportunities for collaboration and unity both within the Association and across the Salesian Family.
With these hopes and this vision for the future, Fr. Fabio Attard officially appointed Borja Perez as the new World Coordinator of the Salesian Cooperators.
The announcement was met with deep emotion, joy, gratitude, and celebration. Participants offered heartfelt thanks both to those completing their service and to those beginning new responsibilities, united as one family around the common dream of the salvation of young people.
This appointment also marks a historic milestone: for the first time, the World Coordinator does not come from the Italy, Middle East, and Malta Region—a sign, participants noted, that the Spirit is leading the Association toward new horizons.