Salesian Cooperators: Organization and Sense of Belonging for Mission Success

ASSOCIATION OF SALESIAN COOPERATORS Renew: PAL FORMATION RESOURCE THE PAL: OUR IDENTITY CARD WITHIN THE CHURCH, IN THE SALESIAN FAMILY AND THE SOCIETY SUBJECT: ORGANIZATION AND SENSE OF BELONGING 1876-2026 150 years of Salesian Cooperators A dream, a promise, the future Remember - Renew - Revive

THE MISSION 1. What does the PAL say about the organization of the ASSCC and the sense of belonging of the Salesian Cooperator? 2. Further study a) Why are organization and a sense of belonging aspects to be taken into consideration? b) How can we put it into practice in our lives c) Best practice examples 3. Conclusion 4. Elements for personal and group reflection 2

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING What does the PAL say about the organization of the Association ot Salesian Cooperators and the sense of belonging of the Salesian Cooperator? Statutes Chapter VI: Organization of the association Chapter V: Membership and Formation of the Salesian Cooperator, see especially art. 28: The Value of Membership Other articles containing information on organization and sense of belonging Art. 5: The Association in the Salesian Family Art. 6: Salesian Cooperators: Salesians in the World Art. 11: Typical Activities Art. 13: Precious Heritage Art. 21: Brothers and Sisters in Don Bosco Art. 22: Co-responsible in the Mission Art. 23: Participation in and Ties with the Groups of the Salesian Family Art. 25: Particular Bonds with the Society of St. Francis de Sales and with the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christianse 3

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING What does the PAL say about the organization of the Salesian Cooperators Association and the sense of belonging of the Salesian Cooperator? Regulations Chapter V: Organization of the Association Chapter IV: Membership and Formation of Salesian Cooperators, see especially art. 14: Sense of Belonging Other articles containing information on organization and sense of belonging Art. 6 : Family spirit Art. 9: Particular Bonds with the Society of St. Francis de Sales and with the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians Art. 10: Ties with Groups of the Salesian Family 4

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING Why are organization and a sense of belonging aspects to be taken into consideration? The organization serves the mission It must serve to achieve our common objective It must motivate, coordinate and support the availability of its own members "The Association [...] is the means to live out mission and communion according to the Project of Apostolic Life."(Statutes, art. 33) 5

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING Why are organization and a sense of belonging important considerations? One Association - three levels The same structure at every level: coordinator, treasurer, secretary, responsible for formation, council, delegates. Local centre = the nucleus, the pivotal cell Provincial and world levels are at its service. 6

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING Why are organization and a sense of belonging aspects to be taken into consideration? Important organizational aspects within our Association A flexible, collegial organization An organization being able to adapt to the realities on-site An Association linked to the universal church 7

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING Why are organization and a sense of belonging aspects to be taken into consideration? No organization, no belonging Our membership as Salesian Cooperators has different levels: Me as SC 8

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING Why are organization and a sense of belonging aspects to be taken into consideration? Different aspects of belonging Certain formalities: application for admission, acceptance by the organization, inclusion in the life and activities of the Association ASSCC membership = vocation Formal organizational aspects must never be more important than vocational discernment 9

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING Why are organization and a sense of belonging aspects to be taken into consideration? From a formal membership to a sense of belonging Developing a sense of belonging during initial formation Strengthen it through active participation in associative life and a lifelong learning process Experiencing the salesian spirit = sign and criterion of holy kinship Wherever it is missing, a vital belonging to the Association is lacking. 10

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING Why are organization and a sense of belonging aspects to be taken into consideration? Belonging needs concrete signs Participating actively in the Association's community life Testifying to a lifestyle in the spirit of the PAL Living one's vocation in one's professional environment Fidelity to one's vocation Sharing the Salesian spirit Working together on a common mission Participating actively and joyfully in various initiatives 11

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING Why are organization and a sense of belonging aspects to be taken into consideration? The fruit of the sense of belonging "The most precious fruit of belonging lived in fullness is joy: joy is not a superficial and fleeting good humor but a profound one which is grafted from and finds its roots in shared faith and is realized in works done for the good of the young." (PAL Official Commentary, article 28, p. 112) 12

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING How can we put this into practice in our daily lives? It's important to "keep alive" the flame of love and of belonging to the Association and to the Salesian Family. Participation in regular local and provincial meetings Participation in the Association s prayer meetings (on-site or online at provincial, regional or world level) Participation in regional events (on-site or online) offered by the Association Reading of texts of older and more recent tradition and, especially, of the works of Don Bosco helps us to know and to be faithful to the charism and the precious heritage which has been handed down (Cf. Guidelines and indications for the formation of the Salesian Cooperator, p. 31). Availability for functions/services at different levels 13

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING How can we put this into practice in our daily lives? Collaboration with other Salesian Family groups Support for "the economic autonomy of the Association so that it can carry out its mission" (Statutes art. 22) in a sense of belonging. To deepen of one s knowledge and understanding of Salesian spirituality (a vital knowledge of Don Bosco, of the Salesian Family), of the history and the life of the Association of Salesian Cooperators, both at the world and local levels (Cf. Guidelines and indications for the formation of the Salesian Cooperator, p. 49). To understand and interiorize the Project of Apostolic Life and its accompanying Commentary, especially with regards to the organization and the sense of belonging to the Association. (Cf. Guidelines and indications for the formation of the Salesian Cooperator, p. 49). 14

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING How can we put this into practice in our daily lives? The annual renewal of the Promise helps us in particular to keep the awareness of our belonging to the Association and of our own vocation alive. (cf. Regulations, art. 14 1) 15

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING Best practice examples 1. Newsletter and Association websites at different levels: participation and strengthening of the sense of belonging. 2. Provincial Council meetings are held in the various local centres on a rotating basis: the Provincial Council gets to know the realities on-site, and the local centres feel more connected to the Provincial Council. 3. Offers for several adjoining local centres: the sense of belonging is thereby not limited to the lowest level. 16

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING Conclusion Belonging requires organization Need for organization as structure, as support Organization must not become an end in itself The organization must never be more important than our sense of belonging 17

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING Elements for personal and group reflection Belonging needs signs How do I personally feel about belonging to the Association? At the local centre, in the province, in the region? How can I show that I belong to the Association of Salesian Cooperators in my daily life? How do I live my life as a Salesian Cooperator? 18

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING Elements for personal and group reflection One association - three levels Am I aware of the Association's world dimension? Have I already experienced the world dimension? What do we, as a province, want from the regional/world level? How does the interaction between the province and the region / between the province and the world level work? 19

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING Elements for personal and group reflection The organization serves the mission Do I see the organization of our association as a support in the realization of the apostolic mission? Or is the organization of our local centre/province/region an end in itself? How much organization does a local centre need "from above"? How does interaction with the province work? What do we, as a local centre, want from the province? 20

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING Elements for personal and group reflection Maintaining a sense of belonging Moreover, we should always remember that the annual renewal of the Promise helps us in particular to keep alive the awareness of our belonging to the Association and of our own vocation (cf. Regulations, art. 14 1): When was the last time I renewed my Promise? Does our province ensure regular renewal of the Promise? How do I feel when I renew my Promise? 21

ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING ORGANIZATION AND A SENSE OF BELONGING Elements for personal and group reflection Availability for services and sense of belonging The Association's organization needs Salesian Cooperators who make themselves available for services at the various levels. If I make myself available, it's also a sign of my sense of belonging. Am I ready to take on services within the Association? Why am I not ready to make myself available for a service? What do I want the local centre/province/region/world level to do to make me willing to take on a service? 22

GRACIAS GRACIAS GRAZIE GRAZIE THANK YOU THANK YOU MERCI MERCI OBRIGADO OBRIGADO 23