SALESIAN WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION

This is the English translation of Asociación Damas Salesianas with the international abbreviation: ADS. The ADS is one of many organizations founded by Salesians or inspired by the Salesian charism and spirituality and are officially recognized as autonomous members of the Salesian Family.

This women's association was co-founded by Fr. Miguel Gonzalez, SDB (second from right) and a group of dedicated Venezuelan women to administer to the young and poor in Latin America and underdeveloped parts of the world.

Fr. Gonzalez was born in Spain and came to work among the youth in Cuba. After being expelled by the Castro regime in 1961, Fr. Gonzalez went to Caracas, Venezuela. Among his many labors was the building of a national shrine in honor of St. John Bosco in Altamira, Caracas. The backbone of all the work of fundraising and organizing was a group of women who, when the "Templo" was completed, met with Fr. Gonzalez and asked, "Now what else can we do?" What resulted was the ADS.

After brain-storming on the needs of the people, this group of women decided to dedicate themselves to the needs of the poor, especially the young and women. The answer to these needs gave rise to a clinic which gave medical assistance and education. At first only five or six persons came each day. Today there are 17 different medical areas which serve 1,600 persons daily.

This work has grow to 41 centers in Venezuela and 7 in the city of Caracas. In 1985 the ADS began to branch out and now number 3,500 members found in 28 nations from South and Central America to Spain, The Philippines and Japan. In January of this year the first foundation in the United States was made in Miami, Florida. Currently, studies and negotiations are going on to establish works in San Francisco and Los Angeles, California.

The women who make up the ADS are familiarly known as "the women in yellow" because of the light yellow smocks they wear in their establishments. Their avowed mission is to promote the economic and human development of the most needy areas where they find themselves. They focus primarily on helping children, adolescents and women by offering health care services, basic education, technical training and small business management training.

The ADS women are secular [lay] and of distinct humanitarian nature. ADS volunteers assume leadership roles in the community. They show a capacity to adapt to different needs and demonstrate essential qualities of voluntary cooperation. They are motivated by the charism and spirituality of the St. John Bosco who founded the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Salesian Family, of which the ADS are part. Don Bosco devoted his life to helping abandoned and needy children in the last century motivated by his love of the Church and inspired by Mary Help of Christians.

Any woman can join the ADS and no special qualifications are required. Two types of work are available-1] the actual clinics and out-reach programs and 2] centers for fundraising to support the active programs. The ADS is an autonomous organization but united to the Salesian Family by charism and spirituality and have Salesian fathers, brothers and sisters and spiritual guides.

An individual woman will work with the ADS for at least two years and then make a promise [not a vow] to carry on the work of the ADS. This promise is renewed yearly. There is a provision also for those of other religious traditions [non-Catholics] and hence no promise is required. Women who are divorced are also welcomed and encouraged to make their spirituality practical by working for the young and needy.

The ADS work may be described in the Association's own words: "We are secular in the Christian community but we are Christians in the civil society. We represent the Catholic Church and are actively taking a role to well represent it."

Until the ADS is set up in San Francisco and Los Angeles they can be contacted at: