Slovakia Has Seven New Salesian Cooperators in Azerbaijan
The Association of Salesian Cooperators of the Poprad center in Slovakia has grown with new members. Surprisingly, they include two married couples and three women from Azerbaijan. Their admission to the Association was preceded by two years of online preparation, and a personal meeting at the Salesian center in Baku provided space for a deeper and broader understanding of the vocational stories of each of the aspirants.
On Thursday, February 19, the provincial delegate for the Salesian Family, Fr. Pavol Grach, the provincial coordinator of the Association of Salesian Cooperators in Slovakia, František Goboňa, and the Salesian Cooperators who participated in the formation of the future Salesian Cooperators arrived in the capital of Azerbaijan.
On Saturday, February 21, in accordance with the Project of Apostolic Life, the aspirants made their personal Promise of a Salesian Cooperator during the Holy Mass, thus becoming official members of the Association of Salesian Cooperators.
The Eucharistic celebration in the Church of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baku was presided over by the Apostolic Prefect of Azerbaijan, Mons. Vladimír Fekete, while the homily was delivered by Fr. Pavol Grach. The new members were formally received into the Association by the provincial coordinator, František Goboňa.
The Association of Salesian Cooperators currently has four members in the mission territory of Yakutia and seven new members in Azerbaijan. For the time being, they all belong to the Slovak Province, specifically to the center of their formators – the Poprad center.
Salesian Family Day Held and the 150th Anniversary of the Founding of the Salesian Cooperators Marked
The Salesians, the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, the Salesian Cooperators, members of the Association of Mary Help of Christians, and friends of Don Bosco celebrated their Day on Saturday, 7 March 2026, at the Shrine of the Holy Mother of Freedom in Jarun, Zagreb, Croatia.
This year’s Salesian Family Day brought together 200 participants, along with another thirty Salesian animators who took care of around seventy children so that their parents could participate fully in the programme.
The gathering was opened with welcoming addresses by don Milan Ivančević, Provincial of the Croatian Salesian Province; Sr Mateja Kranjc, Provincial of the Slovenian–Croatian FMA Province; and Blažka Merkac, a Salesian Cooperator from Slovenia, member of the World Council of the Association of Salesian Cooperators and Regional Coordinator.
Don Branko Bendra, the Provincial Vicar and Provincial Delegate for the Salesian Family, introduced the participants into the working part of the day with prayer and an invocation to the Holy Spirit. The programme was led by Brana Vrbić and Marin Skoklev, members of the Association of Salesian Cooperators from Žepče and Zagreb (Knežija).
Don Mario Bobić and Melita Jugov, a Salesian Cooperator, introduced those present to the theme of this year’s message of the Rector Major of the Salesian Congregation: “Do whatever He tells you.”
The participants then had a brief adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, after which they were divided into small groups where, in a “conversation in the Spirit,” they spoke and listened about their living out of the Salesian charism and together discerned the will of God. Later, through summaries of the group work, they presented their conclusions.
The 150th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Salesian Cooperators was fittingly commemorated. The Association was founded by St John Bosco with the idea that, for the salvation of the souls of the young, but also of all others, a great movement of people should be formed, not only of religious men and women, but also of lay people.
Fifty years ago, this Association was revived in Croatia after having disappeared in 1945. Along with an appropriate short documentary film presenting the history of the Salesian Cooperators in the world and in Croatia, the current activity of the Cooperators in Croatia was also presented. Plaques were awarded to those who had made a special contribution to the development and work of the Association. Throughout the gathering, participants also had the opportunity to hear about parts of the apostolic activity of the Cooperators on the margins of our society, through institutions where children with various needs and without adequate parental care reside.
The gathering concluded with the Eucharistic celebration presided over by don Milan Ivančević, Provincial, together with concelebrating Salesian priests. In his homily, don Milan called on the members of the Salesian Family “to safeguard the treasure, that is, the Salesian charism, which the Lord has bestowed.”
By making their promise, seven new members joined the Association of Salesian Cooperators, currently the most numerous Salesian branch within the territory of the Croatian Salesian Province.
The day was truly grace-filled, joyful, and fruitful.
With full hearts we can say: Don Bosco’s spirit continues to live on — in communion, service, fidelity, and joy.
Martinija Bekavac
Coordinator, ASC Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
