The Salesian Cooperators

By Lourice Biondi

The Spirit of Don Bosco is Alive and Well at Saints Peter and Paul!

Have you ever thought that holiness was something reserved for priests and religious? If so, you are not alone. After all, isn't the Church calendar chock full of feast days of saints who were priest or men/women religious? This clearly leaves the laity off the hook-right?

Well, Surprise!-the documents from Vatican II tell us that all the faithful have an invitation and an obligation to strive for holiness and perfection-each according to his/her own state in life. [Lumen Gentium, 1964] In his letter on the Laity, Pope John Paul II writes that all Christ's followers are invited and bound to pursue holiness and the perfect fulfillment of their own state of life. [Christifideles Laici, 1988]

In addition, the documents from Vatican II tell us that the laity are called in a special way to make the Church present and operative in places and circumstances where only they can act. And again, John Paul II writes that the lay faithful are called by God so that they, led by the Spirit of the Gospel, might contribute to the sanctification of the world, by fulfilling their own particular duties.

Not only are we to strive for personal holiness, but we are supposed to try and make out own little corner of the world holy! A tall order indeed. We are duly impressed with their "modern" references to the role of the laity in the Church. So, it is with some surprise that we realize that Don Bosco formed an organization for his lay collaborators, the Salesian Cooperators, in 1876!

No doubt about it, don Bosco was clearly a visionary 100 years ahead of his times. Being a very practical man, Don Bosco realized that he could get a lot more of his work done, if he could get a lot more people to help him.

The purpose of the Salesian Cooperators dovetails rather nicely with all this recent emphasis on personal holiness for the average Christian and increased involvement of the laity. The Salesian Cooperators are simply Catholics who live their faith within the framework of their own state in life, but according to the spirit of Don Bosco. They work with other members of the Salesian Family [e.g.: the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB), the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA, Salesian Sisters), the Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB-vowed laity living on their own), Friends of Don Bosco (FDB), et al.] for the good of the church, of society, and especially for youth. "In the Salesian Spirit" is a rather vague catch-all phrase referring to the Salesian manner of being open, friendly, cordial, hospitable, welcoming-especially toward the young. So, the Salesian Cooperators live an "ordinary Life" emphasizing this Salesian Spirit.

The Salesian Cooperators group at Sts. Peter and Paul Church was started in 1984. There are about twenty members who are active in various capacities throughout the parish. They come together once a month for a short meeting and spiritual reflection-adding to this, a pot-luck dinner shared with the Salesian Fathers and Brothers and Salesian Sisters about four times a year. They are an older group, with ages ranging from 52 to 87. Many of the members were benefactors and "cooperating" with the Salesians at Sts. Peter and Paul's long before they knew what a Salesian Cooperator was, or even that there was such a thing.

In addition to personal spiritual formation and enjoying each other's company at their gatherings, they have "adopted" a Salesian Mission effort in Sierra Leone, West Africa. They collect money on a regular basis for this purpose and also frequently have speakers from Africa keeping them abreast of all the new developments of "their" mission.

Parish activities that the cooperators are involved in as a group include: hosting an after-Mass coffee/donut Hospitality Sunday once a month; acting as hosts, greeters, ushers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, assistant cooks, waiters/waitresses, bartenders, clean-up committee for any and all parish events and/or receptions benefiting the school, parish or Salesian Boys and Girls Club.

On an individual basis, there are cooperators who give generously of their time. They volunteer several times a week for the lunch duty in the school cafeteria; tutor children from Sts. Peter and Paul's school who are having difficulties in any area; help the teachers correct papers; visit the elderly at On Lok, an in-house and out-reach social program for the elderly and handicapped; help with all parish meetings; run rummage sales to benefit the parish and/or school; volunteer for the Salesian Provincial Office. Many are very involved in the care of their grandchildren, busy influencing the next generation with Christian and Salesian values. The cooperators are very simply present and available for any and all needs-in the home, in the school, and in the parish.

Any one interested in this kind of service for the young are encouraged to contact their nearest Salesian work of the Fathers, Brothers and Sisters and speak to the Pastor, Director or Superior to learn more about the Salesian Cooperators. Also, look forward to other articles in succeeding issues of the Salesian Bulletin.

Lourice Biondi is married to Silvano and lives near Sts. Peter and Paul Church. She is currently President of the Salesian Cooperator group attached to the church and also cooks at the rectory. She has two adult children, Silvana and Paolo.