Our Association is living a particularly meaningful moment. In the midst of Lent—a time of conversion, inner silence, and return to what is essential—we also draw near to the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Association of Salesian Cooperators. This date is not only a historical milestone but a profound invitation to renew our vocation and rekindle the fire of the charism received from Don Bosco.

In this context, in addition to the proposals already known at the regional level, many provinces and centers in Spain and Portugal are preparing sessions of Spiritual Exercises. This is not just another activity on the calendar: it is a privileged opportunity to pause, listen, discern, and strengthen our spiritual life, as the Project of Apostolic Life reminds us.

The Spiritual Exercises are a gift. They allow us to look honestly at our lives, recognize God’s presence in the everyday, and let ourselves be guided by the Word. They are also a space to rediscover the roots of our Salesian lay vocation: to be signs and bearers of God’s love for young people, especially the most vulnerable.

As we stand at the threshold of such a great celebration, we want to arrive well prepared, with open hearts and renewed vision. The 150th anniversary is not only grateful remembrance; it is missionary impulse. It is listening again to the call to be God’s cooperators in the lives of so many young people and families.

For this reason, we encourage all brothers and sisters of the Association to take part in these Spiritual Exercises. May this time of Lent and preparation help us grow in depth, communion, and apostolic joy. May it find us united, prayerful, and ready to continue building together the work that Don Bosco dreamed.