Provincial Elective Congress of the Salesian Cooperators of the Province of Belo Horizonte (14-16/11/2025 – Barbacena/MG) – by SC Neide Araújo
The Salesian Cooperators of BBH held their Provincial Elective Congress on November 14-16, 2025, at the Salesian Retreat House in Barbacena (MG).
This congress, held every three years, aims to: verify the development of associative life in the province, establish practical guidelines for formation and mission, and elect the new Provincial Councillors who will lead the work in the next three-year period, according to the orientations of the PVA – Project of Apostolic Life.
The meeting brought together about 70 participants, mainly Local Centre Councillors and Provincial Delegates. It featured the special participation of Fr. Dênis Dutra (SDB, Director of the Salesian Presence), who warmly welcomed the participants and introduced the new ISJB Inspector, Fr. Ricardo Carlos (SDB), who closely accompanied the work with fraternal spirit, along with the SDB Delegates present (Fr. Jurandir Azevedo, Fr. Paulo Terra, Fr. Roberto Modesto, Br. Aleixo) and World Councillor SC Darlene dos Reis.
A situational analysis of activities was carried out, showing the Province’s evolution over the past three years, followed by group work on challenges and perspectives for the next three years in light of the Belo Horizonte Document. Finally, after the electoral table was composed, elections and the inauguration of the new BBH Provincial Council took place.
The Provincial Council elected for the 2026-2028 term is composed of: Hamilton Rodrigues da Silva (Coordinator), Rita de Cássia Rodrigues Rosa (Administrator), Déa Raquel Fernandes França (Secretary), and Zucimara Alves do Carmo (Formator – remote inauguration).
As in the 2023-2025 term, the elected Council invited some Cooperators present to collaborate in the mission, establishing work areas: Deputy Administration – SC Lilian Aparecida Pereira Miranda; Deputy Secretariat – SC Angelita Rodrigues Pacheco; Deputy Formation – Ana Paula Auxiliadora Carvalho; Vocational Animation – SC Mário da Silva; Salesian Family – SC Fr. Joaquim Augusto de Carvalho and SC Edilma Souza da Silva; Youth – SC Dircinha Batista Gomes de Farias; Communication – SC Neide Maria Lages Araújo and SC Samuel Resende Daldegan.
The Congress concluded with Holy Mass of thanksgiving for the outgoing Council and sending forth of the new Council, presided over by Inspector Fr. Ricardo Carlos (SDB – ISJB) and concelebrated by the priests present: Fr. Sedney Manja (SDB – Vicar of the Inspector), Fr. Roberto Modesto (SDB – Delegate DF), Fr. Paulo Terra (SDB – Delegate RJ), and SC Fr. Joaquim Augusto de Carvalho (Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte).
After the Mass, closing the works, World Councillor for the Brazil Region, SC Darlene dos Reis, offered a reflection: “PVA – Project of Apostolic Life – From identity to mission: the risk of self-referentiality.”
Provincial Council elected for the 2026-2028 term:
- Hamilton Rodrigues da Silva (Coordinator)
- Rita de Cássia Rodrigues Rosa (Administrator)
- Déa Raquel Fernandes França (Secretary)
