“Salesian Cooperators, pilgrims with the youth, in the Jubilee 2025”
The Association of Salesian Cooperators of the Province of Venezuela held its Elective-Formative Congress on October 10, 11, and 12, 2025, at the “Our Lady of Light” retreat house in Carialinda. The Congress aimed to elect the councilors who will lead the Association for the three-year period 2025-2028, as well as to strengthen formation as nourishment for the spirituality of the Salesian Cooperator. The Congress is convened every three years for the renewal of the Provincial Council, according to Article 28, Section 3 of the Regulations of the Project of Apostolic Life.
The motto of the meeting was: “Salesian Cooperators, pilgrims with the youth, in the Jubilee 2025.”
On Friday, we welcomed all the brothers arriving at the congress. In the evening, the outgoing Provincial Council presented its report for the 2022-2025 triennium.
Saturday was a training day with topics highly relevant to our vocation. There were four formative moments: first, “Reflection from Silence” by Álvaro Sequera, Provincial Formator; then, the topic “The Challenge of Walking Together with Hope” was presented by Willy Rojas, Formator for the South Pacific-Caribbean Region; then, the topic “J.G.H. A Lay Saint – A Lay Saint” by Father Wilmer Moyetones, Director of the Department of Laity of the Archdiocese of Valencia; and finally, the fourth moment, “The Meaning of the Provincial Council Election” by Deliana Almendras, World Councilor for the South Pacific-Caribbean Region.
Outgoing Provincial Council 2022-2025
Sunday was the election day. The electoral process was attended by sixteen (16) centers, which was considered valid as it exceeded half plus one of the twenty-four (24) centers established in the Province. Forty-six local councilors with voting rights were present, as well as the delegates Sister Alicia Roscan (FMA), who is the Provincial Delegate, and Father David Marín (SDB), Provincial Delegate for the Salesians of Don Bosco, as well as Delegate for the South Pacific-Caribbean Region.
World Councilor Emeritus for the South Pacific-Caribbean Region, Asmirian Montilla, oversaw the process on behalf of the current World Councilor, Deliana Almendras, who followed the election via Google Meet. The election process began with an invocation to the Holy Spirit by the SDB Delegate, Father David Marín. The outgoing Provincial Coordinator, Carlos Rodríguez, read the 2025 Electoral Regulations, and the electoral commission was immediately formed. The new Provincial Council was proclaimed during a Mass celebrated by the Provincial of the Salesians in Venezuela, Father Rafael (fucho) Montenegro, SDB. The services distributed among the councilors were as follows:
Provincial Coordinator: Carlos Rodríguez
Administrator: Ana Tarazona
Formator: Antonio Bracho
Secretary: Nélida Sanquiz
Communication and Social Media: Álvaro Sequera
Pastoral Care and Vocational Promotion: Karina Barrios
This weekend, spent at this elective training congress, it was a day steeped in spirituality, with experiences specific to the Salesian charism, a sense of brotherhood, and an atmosphere of joy and hope for our association. This makes us passionate about the meaning of being a Salesian Cooperator, as we simply identify with this wonderful vocation.
