Cooperating with the Salesians
By Judy Kallmeyer
Salesian Cooperators are men and women, married and single, and diocesan Priests, who seek to affiliate with the Salesians of St. John Bosco. Drawn by his care for the young and his motto, "Give me souls, take the rest away," they seek to follow his way of life as closely as possible.
I have been a Cooperator for 32 years. I read a brief biography of Don Bosco and was drawn to him, especially by his joy and his total trust in the Providence of God. I was also drawn by the wonderful hospitality shown when I would visit a Salesian house. The camaraderie and joyfulness of the priests and brothers was infectious. I wanted to share in it, and so after about a year of formation, I was inducted into the Association on January 27,1982. I had found my home.
Many areas of service are open to the Salesian Cooperators, including ministry to youth (especially the poor and disadvantaged), ministry to working people, and to the promotion and support of religious vocations, among others. At the beginning of my Salesian life, my primary apostolate was my job in an outpatient mental health center. I resolved to treat our clients with the utmost care and to perform my tasks with great attention.
Eventually, I became a catechist with the RCIA program and remained with this wonderful apostolate for 15 years. Sharing our faith with people, who were seeking to enter the Church, or to complete their Sacraments of Initiation, has been a source of intense satisfaction and joy. My walk as a Cooperator has taken me in directions I never thought possible, including serving the Association as Province Secretary and Coordinator for three years each. It was been so rewarding to speak at formation days, and getting to know so many SDBs, FMAs and Cooperators, has been a source of enthusiasm.
We live out our vocations as Cooperators by the statutes articulated in the “Plan of Apostolic Life.” We were thrilled to receive an updated plan on October 11, in a beautifully bound book. As we joyfully renewed our Promise, I felt uplifted and renewed in my commitment.
If any young people are drawn by the life of Don Bosco, and would like to learn of other ways to live out the Salesian Mission, investigate the Cooperators. You will find a family of brothers and sisters committed to Christ and His Church living in the spirit of St. John Bosco.
I have been a Cooperator for 32 years. I read a brief biography of Don Bosco and was drawn to him, especially by his joy and his total trust in the Providence of God. I was also drawn by the wonderful hospitality shown when I would visit a Salesian house. The camaraderie and joyfulness of the priests and brothers was infectious. I wanted to share in it, and so after about a year of formation, I was inducted into the Association on January 27,1982. I had found my home.
Many areas of service are open to the Salesian Cooperators, including ministry to youth (especially the poor and disadvantaged), ministry to working people, and to the promotion and support of religious vocations, among others. At the beginning of my Salesian life, my primary apostolate was my job in an outpatient mental health center. I resolved to treat our clients with the utmost care and to perform my tasks with great attention.
Eventually, I became a catechist with the RCIA program and remained with this wonderful apostolate for 15 years. Sharing our faith with people, who were seeking to enter the Church, or to complete their Sacraments of Initiation, has been a source of intense satisfaction and joy. My walk as a Cooperator has taken me in directions I never thought possible, including serving the Association as Province Secretary and Coordinator for three years each. It was been so rewarding to speak at formation days, and getting to know so many SDBs, FMAs and Cooperators, has been a source of enthusiasm.
We live out our vocations as Cooperators by the statutes articulated in the “Plan of Apostolic Life.” We were thrilled to receive an updated plan on October 11, in a beautifully bound book. As we joyfully renewed our Promise, I felt uplifted and renewed in my commitment.
If any young people are drawn by the life of Don Bosco, and would like to learn of other ways to live out the Salesian Mission, investigate the Cooperators. You will find a family of brothers and sisters committed to Christ and His Church living in the spirit of St. John Bosco.
