Salesian Literature

Association of Salesian Cooperators

www.salesiancooperators.org

The Association of Salesian Cooperators is a lay association in the Catholic Church.  It is one of the three main branches of the Salesian Family founded by St. John Bosco in 1876 to provide care and education to young people, especially those who are poor.  Don Bosco described the Cooperators as "people who wish to devote themselves to works of mercy in a specific rather than a general way."  Don Bosco established rules and a mission for the Cooperators which are included today in The Project of the Apostolic Life.

Don Bosco had wanted to have "The Salesian in the world" but had to be content with "the Salesian Cooperator." Perhaps this is the best summary of the failure Don Bosco suffered in a project that had been very dear to him. He had wanted to create a branch of Salesians with full rights in the Congregation though not bound by vows and not living the common life; he succeeded only in getting half of what he had wanted. Even his Italian facility for maneuvering and his Piedmontese tenacity had to yield to the firm decision of those who considered his plan unacceptable, and perhaps, at that time, it was indeed not feasible.

The Union of Salesian Cooperators was officially established in 1876, soon after the definitive approval of the Salesian Society and at a time, when the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians was already making progress. It was the culmination of a long struggle going back to the beginning of the oratory.