Inter-American Region. News from Puerto Rico, Guatemala, Canada and Northern Mexico

Spiritual Exercises of the Salesian Cooperators in Guatemala, CAM North Province.

From September 27 to 29, the “Manuel Enrique Piñol” Salesian Philosophical Institute was the place where the annual Spiritual Exercises of the Salesian Cooperators were held, under the inspiring motto: “Renewing the Promise Daily!” This event brought together 71 Salesian Cooperators and 17 aspirants from the 8 local centers of Guatemala.

For three days, the participants immersed themselves in an enriching program of meditations and spiritual reflections, all in an atmosphere of silence and recollection. The Exercises included key moments, such as the reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Eucharistic Adoration, where the following of Jesus Christ and spiritual and vocational discernment were deepened.

The topics discussed were deeply significant: silence as a tool of the soul, contemplation of God’s love, acceptance of the cross, the apostolate in daily life and trust in the help of Mary Help of Christians.

The event culminated on Sunday with the Eucharist, followed by a fraternal sharing that strengthened the commitment of the Salesian Cooperators to their mission. This meeting renewed their promise of service to young people and to the Church, keeping Don Bosco’s charism alive in their daily lives.

Renewal of promise in the western zone, Mexico North Province.

On Sunday, September 29, the renewal of the promises of the Salesian Cooperators of the western zone took place. The mass was celebrated by Father Sergio de la Cruz Loera, SDB director of the work in Zamora, Michoacán.

The renewals were received by the provincial coordinator Alfredo Algandar Alvarado, accompanied by Cynthia Verónica Ojeda Zárate, provincial councilor for youth and family ministry, immediately after which a gathering was held to close the fraternal moment with the entire Salesian community.

Salesian Family Day – Province of Canada

On Saturday, October 5, Montreal was the setting for the Salesian Family Day, organized by the Salesian Family Council of Montreal, Sherbrooke and Cornwall. The activity took place at the Don Bosco Youth Leadership Center (YLC) in Montreal, focusing its theme on the explanation of the logo of the Jubilee 2025, entitled “Pilgrim of Hope” and that of the Strenna 2025, also addressing the care of creation, as well as the life of Carlo Acutis, who will soon be canonized.

Over the years, the face of the Salesian Family in Eastern Canada has evolved remarkably. Along with the French-speaking, English-speaking and Italian communities, Haitian, Mexican, Peruvian, Filipino, Cameroonian and Vietnamese communities have joined. In addition, there was the presence of two aspiring Salesian Cooperators from Lebanon, belonging to the Eastern Catholic rite

Annual Assembly of the Salesian Cooperators of Puerto Rico, Province of the Antilles.

On Sunday, October 13, 33 Salesian Cooperators from the four local centers of Puerto Rico met at the San Juan Bosco Diocesan Youth Center, located in the San Antonio Village, Aguadillas. It was a meeting full of warmth, where they enjoyed moments of prayer, formation, exchange of experiences, reports from the Local Centers and a national economic report, culminating in an emotional Eucharist.

The training was led by Father Hiram Santiago, SDB, originally from Orocovis and resident in the Salesian Work of Aibonito, who shared the 2025 Strenna “Anchored in hope, pilgrims with the youth.” Father Hiram invited us to delve deeper into the motto of this Strenna, which speaks of hope as the central theme, anchored as an attitude and pilgrims as our mission with the youth.

The call to be pilgrims with the youth is the most significant gift that this Strenna offers us. It reminds us: “We cannot disappoint them… We must commit ourselves with renewed ardor to accompany the youth: students, engaged couples, the new generations, the sick, migrants, the elderly, those who live in conditions of hardship, those who lack the most basic things, and to promote peace in the world. Let us become closer to them, who are the joy and hope of the Church and the world!