A story that continues to shine: 150 years of Salesian charism, fraternity, and mission.

As part of the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the Association of Salesian Cooperators, on October 10 we gathered in the city of Paysandú for a day of encounter, reflection, and fraternity, renewing the joy of belonging to a great family that continues to keep Don Bosco’s dream alive.

The Nuestra Señora del Rosario School opened its doors to welcome us for a gathering marked by closeness, reunion, shared joy, and a deep sense of belonging to our Association. It was an opportunity to strengthen the bonds among Salesian Cooperators, celebrate the journey we have travelled, and renew our commitment to the mission that unites us.

One of the most significant moments of the day was the reflection offered by Fr Francisco Lezama, SDB Provincial, who invited us to revisit our history through an image as simple as it is profound: “A house with the light on.”

Through this image, he helped us recognise that the Salesian charism is, above all, a gift we have received and are called to share. A house that welcomes, a school that prepares for life, a parish that evangelises, and a playground where friendship and joy are nurtured. A house where no one is a stranger and where there is always room for someone else.

The reflection allowed us to look back with gratitude at the origins of our Association and the 150 years of Salesian presence in Uruguay, recognising the many people who, before us, kept the light of Don Bosco’s charism burning. But it also challenged us to look ahead, to open the doors of our communities, to reach out to the peripheries, and to recognise young people as protagonists of the Salesian mission.

One question resonated particularly throughout the reflection: “For whom am I leaving the light on?” An invitation to discover that celebrating our history means not only remembering what we have experienced but also taking responsibility for continuing it, doing for others what so many people have done for us.

The fraternity shared throughout the day reminded us that we do not walk alone. We are part of an Association that finds its strength in communion, in service, and in the certainty that, as Don Bosco taught us, weak forces, when united, become strong.

Celebrating 150 years means giving thanks for the past, embracing the present with joy, and looking to the future with hope. We returned from Paysandú with grateful hearts, strengthened bonds, and a renewed desire to continue being Salesian Cooperators capable of keeping the light burning, especially where it is most needed.

For Don Bosco’s dream is still alive, and today we are the ones called to carry it forward.