The Association of Salesian Cooperators celebrates its 150th anniversary this May, marking a century and a half of dedication to youth. Founded in 1876 by Saint John Bosco, the organization was created to involve committed laypeople in the mission of assisting the most disadvantaged young people, especially in the industrial context of 19th-century Turin.
Currently, the association boasts over 30,000 cooperators spread across some 60 countries. In the province of Cádiz, more than a hundred of them are distributed between two local centers: one at the San Ignacio center, linked to the Salesian school, and the other at the María Auxiliadora center, managed by the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. In addition to the capital, cooperator groups exist in towns such as Jerez, San José del Valle, Algeciras, and Rota.
Although the Salesian presence in Cádiz dates back to the school's founding in 1904, the current centers have a more recent history. The Salesian Sisters' center began its journey in the 1970s, while the Salesian Brothers' center was canonically confirmed in 1989. Both centers continue to train new cooperators, many of whom extend their work to other locations in Spain.
“"This celebration represents joy, hope, and also the confirmation that dreams, when beautiful, when filled with love and faith, and when they involve putting all the qualities one possesses, few or many, but putting them from the heart and selflessly at the service of others, the young, the children, and the most needy; those dreams come true, they become reality."
The cooperators, who form the lay branch of the Salesian congregation, volunteer in oratories, youth centers, catechesis, and confraternities within the Salesian centers of Cádiz. They also collaborate with foundations such as Don Bosco and Mornese, or the Bosco Global NGO, extending their apostolate to unions, parishes, and other entities focused on caring for the most vulnerable young people, following Saint John Bosco's original vision.
The commemoration of this anniversary will culminate with a Eucharist at the Cathedral of Seville next Saturday, bringing together over 800 cooperators from Andalusia, Extremadura, and the Canary Islands. The ceremony will be presided over by Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, highlighting the significance of this celebration for the Salesian community.
