On June 8 and 9, the face-to-face meeting of the Iberian Regional Consultation of Salesian Cooperators took place at the La Salle Arlep house in Madrid, with the participation of about 45 people.

Convened and chaired by the World Councilor of the Region, Borja Pérez, the Consultation is also made up of the provincial coordinators of the 7 provinces of Spain and Portugal, as well as the Regional Delegate and the members of the Regional Secretariat. Additionally, at least two SSCC members of the respective provincial councils attend as guests. Furthermore, this year we were able to count on the presence of Antonio Boccia, global coordinator, and some members of the SEM, who held their monthly meeting in Madrid.

Throughout the weekend, in an excellent atmosphere of coexistence and fraternity, the annual report of the activities carried out this year in each of the provinces and in each of the animation sectors of the region was presented, confirming the richness of the associative life, which throughout this year has pivoted around the annual motto “Witnesses of a Dream” and the different proposals prepared by each province, always in line with this motto. During the presentation of the provinces, the outgoing provincial coordinators, Mari Ángeles Calzado, Rocío del Nido and Valter Silva, of the Provinces of San Juan Bosco, María Auxiliadora and San Antonio, were recognized and thanked for their service in recent years.

Other topics discussed have been the preparation of the Regional Meeting that we will hold in Malaga in November, within the framework of which the Regional Congress will be held where the Regional Secretariat will be renewed and documents of interest in the associative life of the Region will be worked on, as well as other specific aspects related to the secretariat, communication and Regional Delegation work.

Within the framework of the presence of the SEM among us, Antonio Boccia had a speech on the path taken by the World Council in recent years and the different areas of animation and governance of the Association; Sister Lucrecia Uribe, World Delegate, presented the proposals for the triennium of preparation for the 150th anniversary of the Association. And Raúl Fernández, World Administrator, presented the 2024 budget at the global level.

There was also the significant presence of Mr. Fernando García and Mr. Fernando Miranda, SDB inspectors, who accompanied us on Saturday. At the Eucharist on Sunday, presided over by Mr. Eusebio Martínez, he was thanked for his generous service as Regional Delegate over the last 4 years.