1. Salesian Cooperators of Puerto Rico Live Their Lenten Retreat

On Saturday, February 28, the Salesian Cooperators of Puerto Rico held their Lenten retreat at the top of the Schoenstatt Shrine in Cabo Rojo.

As a Salesian Family, together with special guests, they lived a day marked by silence, prayer, adoration, and reflection. It was also a meaningful moment to begin the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Association of Salesian Cooperators worldwide, within this jubilee year.

The retreat, under the theme “Listen, fast, and be converted: a Salesian-style Lent”, was led by Fr. Emilio, SDB, who encouraged them to live this liturgical season with Don Bosco’s spirituality, with an open heart ready for conversion and joyful service.

Approximately 186 people participated, representing the four Salesian Cooperator Centers: Alejandrina D’Acosta (Orocovis), Don Bosco Amigo (Santurce), Don Bosco 88 (Aguadilla), and San Francisco de Sales (Cataño), along with members of other branches of the Salesian Family and invited friends.

2. Promise of 10 New Salesian Cooperators in Three Cities of the Eastern USA Province

With great joy, the Association celebrates the Promise of 10 new Salesian Cooperators in different cities of the Eastern USA Province, a living sign of lay commitment in Don Bosco’s style.

📍 Chicago, Illinois – January 31 At St. John Bosco Church, four aspirants made their Promise as Salesian Cooperators, joining the Artemide Zatti Center. The Eucharist was presided over by Cardinal Blase Cupich and attended by members of the Provincial Council, representatives of the Artemide Zatti and St. Mary Mazzarello Centers, ADMA, and many faithful.

📍 Tampa, Florida – February 1 Two aspirants made their Promise as Salesian Cooperators, joining the Mary Help of Christians Center. The celebration took place at Mary Help of Christians Parish and was presided over by Fr. John Serio, SDB, with the participation of local leaders, Provincial Council members, and the parish community.

📍 Stony Point, New York – February 14 At the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, four aspirants made their Promise as Salesian Cooperators, officially joining the Association. The Eucharist was concelebrated by Salesian priests and accompanied by the shrine community.

3. Ordinary Assembly of the Salesian Cooperators of the Mexico North Province

With joy and family spirit, from February 20 to 22, the Ordinary Assembly of the Salesian Cooperators of the Mexico North Province took place in Guadalajara, Jalisco, as a space of encounter, prayer, and fraternity.

These days were lived in a deep atmosphere of fraternal communion, with significant moments such as the presentation of the general work plan, dialogue in council groups, attentive listening, and formative and celebratory spaces that strengthen the Salesian vocation and mission.

Participants also had the opportunity to renew their commitment through reflection, the Eucharist, and Salesian spirituality, encouraged to be signs of hope in the reality they face.

Despite the challenges of the environment, the Assembly became a beautiful testimony of faith, unity, and trust in God, strengthening the commitment to continue walking together in service to the young.

4. Spiritual Exercises of the Salesian Cooperators – El Salvador, CAM North Province

On March 7 and 8, 67 Salesian Cooperators from five local centers gathered at the Sacred Heart Retreat House in Ayagualo to live their annual Spiritual Exercises — a privileged time of encounter with God, personal reflection, and spiritual renewal, lived in an atmosphere of fraternity and communion.

Under the theme “Believers free to serve”, the exercises were preached by a Salesian Cooperator, who accompanied participants in strengthening their vocational identity and apostolic commitment in the Salesian mission.

This experience corresponds to the second session of Spiritual Exercises for professed cooperators, organized by the National Council of El Salvador under the coordination of David Aguilar, Salesian Cooperator and National Councilor for Ongoing Formation, with the support of local formation councilors.

The first session gathered 53 cooperators, bringing the total to 120 Salesian Cooperators who have lived their Spiritual Exercises this year.

5. A New Salesian Cooperator in Canada

On March 15, Viktoriia Marko made her Promise as a Salesian Cooperator at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of St. George, after the Divine Liturgy presided over by Bishop Michael Smolinski, Eparch of Saskatoon. The celebration was concelebrated by the cathedral rector, Fr. Ivan Nahachewsky, and the Provincial Delegate for the Salesian Cooperators, Fr. John Puntino.

The Promise took place in the presence of cathedral parishioners and participants of BLAZE, high school students from the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools.

BLAZE (Byzantine Leadership and Zealous Evangelization) is an annual initiative organized by Viktoriia Marko in her service as Byzantine Rite Religious Consultant, in collaboration with Mariel Cabrera and Darryl Huevos from Toronto.

Since there is currently no local Salesian Cooperator Center in Saskatoon, Viktoriia belongs to the St. John Bosco Center in Edmonton, Alberta.

Her Promise is a beautiful sign of how Don Bosco’s charism continues to inspire people in different cultures and places, especially those who wish to dedicate their lives to serving young people and the Church.