The Aspirants Cooperator in Auckland

By Fr. Mathew Vadakkevettuvazhiyil, SDB
Councillor for Salesian Family, Pacific Delegation

Massey, New Zealand, 3 April 2017 -- Next month (May 7) will start the 9th EAO Regional Congress of the Association of Salesian Cooperators (ASC) in Tokyo, Japan. For this regular 3 years occasion each of the ASC Provinces is preparing also with their 3 years report about their life and mission. As first we share the Province report of AUL (Australia - Pacific).

Four countries - one Province: Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Samoa. However until 2 years ago the Salesian Cooperators were found only in Australia. Now we get a good news about new spring in Samoa and New Zealand as well:

The Rector Major, Fr. ángel Fernández Artime SDB, made his impact in New Zealand too by asking the Salesian Community to launch the Association of the Salesian Cooperators in New Zealand. He entrusted this task to the Community while officially presenting the Project of Apostolic Life to the Leader of the Salesian Community. It took a while for both parishes of Massey and Avondale to get to work. Today there are 14 aspirants to the Association of the Salesian Cooperators in New Zealand. The two starting Centers are at Massey and Avondale (Auckland diocese).

They meet once a month for formation. Currently we are going through the Project of Apostolic Life. Such topics as the history of the Congregation, Salesian Spirit, the Preventive System of Don Bosco and the Charism of the Salesians are discussed and studied. The aspirants show keen interest in living the vocation of the Salesian Cooperators. They share in the work of the Salesians especially through their animation and by ‘assisting’ the members of our parish youth groups."

Instead in Samoa we find about 15 new Aspirants being formed in 4 Centers (two islands) and in Australia 5 Centers with an average age of 80 years accompanied by the Salesians in four different cities.

From the AUL - Pacific Delegation will take part in the Tokyo Congress one Salesian and two Samoan Aspirants. They are ask your prayers and they are excited to learn about their vocation and mission through the interaction with other EAO Salesian Cooperators coming together next May.

• EAO provincial reports 2017 are available on the BOSCOLINK


• Related article: AustraLasia 3613

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Rector Major in Massey (Auckland) entrusting the Project of Apostolic Life to the local Salesian Community - May 2015.