On May 9, 1876, the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, Don Bosco's project to form a lay branch of educators committed to the salvation of the neediest young souls received the seal of Pope Pius IX. This year, therefore, we celebrate 140 years of the Association of Salesian Cooperators, which has over 30 thousand members in about 1,400 local centres in 11 regions of the world.

Don Bosco had conceived and developed the idea of Salesian Cooperators years before; but he had to wait until the times were more attuned to his radical idea of a movement made up of laity and clergy working together for the salvation of young people in danger.
The creativity of Don Bosco marked the style of Salesian Cooperators from the beginning: - there were teachers, sports coaches, theatre and music artists, catechists and mothers, people from all walks of life and backgrounds.

In the course of these 140 years the Salesian Cooperators have faithfully followed the project of Don Bosco and have lived out the legacy. Several figures of holiness have arisen from the Association, from Don Bosco's mother and his first "cooperator", the Venerable Mamma Margaret and continuing with the Venerable Attilio Giordani and Edvige Carboni, the Blessed Alexandrina da Costa and Giuseppe Toniolo, St. Joseph Marello, Founder of the Oblates of St. Joseph.

140 years on, the Salesian Cooperators are still compassionate, vibrant people, committed to their faith and passionate contributors to the Salesian mission.

Via ANS (Rome)