Association of Salesian Cooperators
Encyclopedia
Association of Salesian Cooperators (ASC) is the movement of laity
of the Salesian Family of Don Bosco. It is also one of the three main branches of the Salesian Family founded directly by Don Bosco in 1876. The movement was created with the purpose to share the ideals of the Salesian Preventive System
in the education of young people, especially those who are poorest, without the need to be a priest
or a lay religious
. According to a 2005's census, there are 26,703 persons affiliated to this movement around the world.
The ASC's superior is the Rector Major of the Salesians, inside a board of trust known as the World Council. Priests and bishop
s of the dioceses can join this movement, sharing the ideals and educative philosophies of Don Bosco.
approved the rules of the Salesian Society.
In the 1876 Annual Conference's report of the Society of Saint Francis de Sales
, Don Bosco mentioned his plan to create the Association of Salesian Cooperators:
Don Bosco linked the development of the Salesian Bulletin
to the foundation of the Cooperators:
In 1877 the Salesians did their first general chapter and Don Bosco reported the development of the cooperators and the Salesian Bulletin. He described the Association as people who wish to devote themselves to works of mercy in a specific rather than general way and he underlined that the mission of the cooperators is to take care of boys, who are exposed to immorality, catechizing them, keeping them happily busy on Sundays and holy days, finding them jobs with honest employers (...)
In the chapter, Don Bosco established the rules and missions of the cooperators and designed the way so any Catholic lay person, willing to join his educative mission in favor of poor young people, could join.
Laity
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all people who are not in the clergy. A person who is a member of a religious order who is not ordained legitimate clergy is considered as a member of the laity, even though they are members of a religious order .In the past in Christian cultures, the...
of the Salesian Family of Don Bosco. It is also one of the three main branches of the Salesian Family founded directly by Don Bosco in 1876. The movement was created with the purpose to share the ideals of the Salesian Preventive System
Salesian Preventive System
Salesian Preventive System is the educative method developed by the Salesians upon the pedagogical experience of Saint John Bosco with poor youngsters in 19th century Turin. It is based on three pillars: reason, religion and loving-kindness...
in the education of young people, especially those who are poorest, without the need to be a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
or a lay religious
Consecrated life (Catholic Church)
In the Roman Catholic Church, the term "consecrated life" denotes a stable form of Christian living by those faithful who feel called to follow Jesus Christ in a more exacting way recognized by the Church...
. According to a 2005's census, there are 26,703 persons affiliated to this movement around the world.
The ASC's superior is the Rector Major of the Salesians, inside a board of trust known as the World Council. Priests and bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s of the dioceses can join this movement, sharing the ideals and educative philosophies of Don Bosco.
History
In 1873, Pope Pius IXPope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
approved the rules of the Salesian Society.
In the 1876 Annual Conference's report of the Society of Saint Francis de Sales
Salesians of Don Bosco
The Salesians of Don Bosco is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the late nineteenth century by Saint John Bosco in an attempt, through works of charity, to care for the young and poor children of the industrial revolution...
, Don Bosco mentioned his plan to create the Association of Salesian Cooperators:
Don Bosco linked the development of the Salesian Bulletin
Salesian Bulletin
The Salesian Bulletin is an official publication of the Salesians that was founded in August 1877 by Don Bosco. It has been published without interruption since then. The proliferation of the educational works of Don Bosco in the five continents, is the first responsible of the survival of the...
to the foundation of the Cooperators:
In 1877 the Salesians did their first general chapter and Don Bosco reported the development of the cooperators and the Salesian Bulletin. He described the Association as people who wish to devote themselves to works of mercy in a specific rather than general way and he underlined that the mission of the cooperators is to take care of boys, who are exposed to immorality, catechizing them, keeping them happily busy on Sundays and holy days, finding them jobs with honest employers (...)
In the chapter, Don Bosco established the rules and missions of the cooperators and designed the way so any Catholic lay person, willing to join his educative mission in favor of poor young people, could join.