Rome. On October 21, Domenico Nguyen and Sister Lucrecia Uribe (World Delegates) held two online meetings to share a formative moment with the Regional Delegates of the Salesian Cooperators. Two online meetings are held each year; this time, they were grouped by region: at 2:00 p.m., the delegates from the following regions participated: Europe (East-West); Asia; and Africa. At 9:00 p.m., the delegates from the four regions of the Americas, Italy, the Middle East, and Iberia-Portugal.

After the opening prayer, dedicated to recalling some characteristics of the spirituality of Saint Maria Troncatti, Antonio Boccia, his greeting focused on the theme for which we were called, encouraged those present with these words:

“You are not alone in this: consecrated persons and lay people share together the same mission, the same passion for the Gospel, the same responsibility in fulfilling the charism that the Church asks us to preserve.

This fraternal communion is not just an ideal, but is made concrete in your daily service: in listening, in shared discernment, in supporting those closest to the local communities. You are guardians of relationships, facilitators of synergies, living signs that hope is built together.”

Next, Fr. Joan Lluís Playá, the Rector Major’s delegate for the Salesian Family, elaborated on three key ideas present in the booklet’s chapter: “Animating and Accompanying the Salesian Family,” referring to the shared mission:

“All believers ‘are (are) a mission’ in the hearts of people (Church, society, etc.), as baptized and called (vocation). All members of the Salesian Family are therefore invited to live ‘the shared mission,’ made up of the unity of spirit and convergence in mission” (CoI, 35), in the different religious and cultural contexts in which we find ourselves.
The spirit of shared formation in the Identity Card: “shared formation,” “exchange of gifts,” “communion and collaboration in the mission,” “apostolic co-responsibility,” “methodology of collaboration.” This is the mission that concerns all Groups.
At the foundation of this approach is an ecclesiology of communion, a renewed theology of the laity, a rethinking of the relationship between laity and religious, a deepening of the mission, a new vision of the bearers of charisms, a vision of shared mission in a charismatic key. This is the vision of the Second Vatican Council that deserves to be explored.”

To conclude, the participants briefly described the levels of realization of shared mission in their Region, highlighting a wide variety of experiences.

The richness of sharing ignited a fire in their hearts to continue the journey that will lead to the World Congress to be held in 2026.