On 6 and 7 June, the Regional Council held its in-person end-of-year meeting at the Divina Pastora House in Madrid, bringing together around 40 Salesian Cooperators.

Convened by Borja Pérez, World Councillor for the Region until last May and World Coordinator since 9 May, the meeting was attended by the seven Provincial Coordinators of the Region, the Provincial Delegates, several Provincial Councillors, and the members of the Regional Secretariat (SER).

On Saturday morning, the annual report of the Regional Secretariat and of the seven Provinces was presented. This has been a year marked by the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Association, commemorated through numerous initiatives at regional, provincial, and local levels.

In the afternoon, the Regional Council agreed to hold a Regional Congress on 7 and 8 November in Madrid, during which a new World Councillor for the Region will be elected, succeeding Borja Pérez, who concludes his service of animation in the Region following his appointment as World Coordinator. The participants then reviewed the experience of the 6th World Congress, with particular attention to the future and to the programmatic guidelines for the coming six-year term.

Saturday’s work concluded with a reflection on economic solidarity. Afterwards, a group of participants joined the vigil with Pope Leo XIV, together with more than half a million young people gathered in the streets of Madrid.

On Sunday morning, following the presentation of several updates regarding Salesian Cooperation for the Young People of the World, the Regional Council welcomed the National Council of Hogares Don Bosco, which presented its proposal for the renewal of its Guiding Principles. The proposal was unanimously approved by the Regional Council.

The meeting concluded with the Corpus Christi Eucharistic Celebration, presided over by José Carlos Sobejano, Provincial of the St. James Major Province.

Once again, this gathering proved to be a rich experience of family spirit and associative communion, inspiring us to look to the future with hope so that we may continue to be leaven in the world in which we are called to live.