Significant institutional meetings were held during the Assembly: with Sister Maria Luisa Nicastro, Secretary General of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA); with Fr Guido Garino, Secretary of the General Council of the Salesians of Don Bosco; and with the Rector Magnificus of the Pontifical Salesian University, Fr Andrea Bozzolo. These occasions provided an updated picture of the protection of Salesian cultural heritage and the promotion of research, also taking into account ecclesial and academic perspectives in view of the international event in 2027. Finally, it is also worth mentioning a meeting with the Mother General of the FMA, Sister Chiara Cazzuola, at the FMA Generalate, on the afternoon of the first day.
Ample space was given to the review of the five continental seminars (Africa-Madagascar, America, South Asia, Europe, East Asia-Oceania) held in 2025, with the presentation of reports by the respective Councillors. The general plan for the Acts was also defined, specifying the editorial methodology and common editorial standards. The Assembly began discerning the reports to be presented at the 2027 International Conference, as well as the draft general programme of the Congress, presented by Sister Imaculada da Silva and Ms Pamela Alarcón.
Among the organisational issues addressed were the preparation of the promotional brochure, the budget for the Congress and the state of the Association’s accounts. The “registration fee” for the three-year period 2024-2026 was also discussed.
Of particular importance were the reports from the national sections (Argentina, Brazil, India, Italy, Poland, and Spain), which highlighted the vitality of Salesian historical research in different contexts. The proposal to found ACSSA Ecuador–Peru was also considered, as well as that of merging Chile with ACSSA Argentina, as a sign of further expansion of the association’s network.
The Presidency Assembly also approved the admission of 27 new members to ACSSA, more than half (16) of whom come from African contexts – a sign of further development of Salesian historical research at a global level. The growth in admissions from Latin America and the presence of several lay people among the new members were also significant.
Among the cultural prospects, the possibility of creating an exhibition or film dedicated to Salesian missions around the world was evaluated in view of the Congress. The 30th anniversary of the foundation of ACSSA (9 October 1996) was also commemorated as an opportunity to renew the identity and mission of the Association.
The Assembly examined new editorial proposals, including Ariel Fresia’s study on the Manuel Molina documentary collection, as well as the preparation of the newsletter ‘ACSSA Informa 2025’. The ‘Progetto Rizoma’ proposal was also presented, aimed at the digital reunification of the Salesian historical archives, emphasising its strategic importance for research.
Among the most significant decisions were the examination of the admission of new candidates (27) and the proposal to appoint Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime and Sister Piera Cavaglià as honorary members. The Assembly also began preparations for the election of the new Presidency for the five-year period 2027–2032 and made an appeal to the General Chapter of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians 2027 for the promotion of the Salesian heritage.
The proceedings concluded with a discussion on the future lines of development of ACSSA, with a view to strengthening international collaboration and enhancing the historical heritage of the Salesian missions, in preparation for the World Congress in 2027.
Fr Stanisław Zimniak,
Secretary of ACSSA.
