RMG – Everything is ready for the 6th World Congress of Salesian Cooperators

Meaning and scope of the Congress

The World Congress will be a special opportunity to discern together, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the priorities and strategies that will enable us to live the apostolic mission of the Salesian Cooperators with renewed vigour, in fidelity to the Project of Apostolic Life and in communion with the whole Salesian Family.

The event has been convened by the Rector Major and is being organised by the World Council of the Association, with operational and technical coordination entrusted to Antonio Boccia, World Coordinator of the Association.

Around 400 Salesian Cooperators are set to gather in Sacrofano, together with delegates from the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), coming from the 110 provinces where the Association is present, divided into 12 regions.

Activities and prospects

The Congress will follow a path of reflection already begun during the three years of preparation for the 150th anniversary. They will begin with a look back at the Association’s past, before analysing its internal reality and the role of the institution within the Salesian Family, in the Church and in the world.

Having understood the current context, the focus will shift to the future, to identify the challenges that lie ahead. The ultimate aim will be to outline the guidelines and programmes for the association for the next six years (2026–2032).

And during the Congress, the Rector Major will also appoint the new World Coordinator of the Association of Salesian Cooperators, who will take up the post from 2026.

Some resources already available

In preparation for the 6th World Congress of Salesian Cooperators, the World Council has presented the official hymn, entitled “With the Power of Love”, composed and produced by the South America-Caribbean Region as a musical contribution to the Association’s journey. The song aims to accompany the work of the Congress, foster unity among the Regions and give voice to the vitality of Salesian Cooperators around the world. Its melody and message are intended to support our shared journey, inspiring hope, creativity and fidelity to the Salesian charism.

A choreography, by Camila Cristina Brandão Lemes and Ana Vitória Barbosa Inácio, has also been created to accompany the anthem, which can be viewed here.

The preparatory journey of recent days

Whilst the major event of the 6th World Congress of Salesian Cooperators was preceded by a full three-year preparatory period, with each year guided by a specific theme, it is also true that in recent days the World Council of the Association has planned a crescendo of further ideas and significant initiatives.

In this regard, over the last few days, short videos have been made available on YouTube in which, recalling that Salesian Cooperators are called to holiness through the faithful living out of the Project of Apostolic Life (PAL), some examples of holiness that have emerged within the Association are illustrated, such as the Servants of God Vera Grita, the Venerable Attilio Giordani or the Blessed Bartolomé Blanco and Alexandrina da Costa.

Finally, on the eve of the Congress, the World Council of Salesian Cooperators went to St Peter’s Square in the Vatican to attend the Wednesday general audience and place the entire course of the proceedings under the Holy Father’s blessing.

Stay tuned

The opening ceremony of the World Congress, on Thursday 7th, followed by the conference “150 years, building a better world”, led by Fr Fabio Attard, Rector Major, will be streamed live from 11am (UTC+2) on the YouTube channel of the Association of Salesian Cooperators.

And in the days that follow, the key moments of the Congress will remain available to Salesian Cooperators and interested parties worldwide, again via live stream and on the same YouTube channel.