Cooperators Celebrate 150 Years

By Fr. Mike Mendl, SDB

(Ramsey, NJ – May 12) – The Association of Salesian Cooperators was approved by Pope Pius IX on May 9, 1876. The whole Salesian Family has been celebrating their 150th anniversary.

The ASC’s Eastern U.S. Province held a province-wide festival on Saturday, May 9, at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, N.J. It was organized by the Long Island Cooperators, with one part held both in person and by Zoom and a second part held in the various local centers.

A little over 40 people assembled in person at Ramsey, coming from seven of the U.S. East Province’s twenty centers. (The Ramsey Cooperators hosted the event.) Others participated online from at least five province centers, plus one from the Canadian Province.

Provincial councilor Bernie Pontillo opened the event by leading everyone in the ASC’s sesquicentennial prayer. Then all the participants prayed the Rosary, alternating decades in English and Spanish.

Joanne Fusaro, another provincial councilor, gave a powerful witness talk on prayer in her own life, particularly in relation to a serious surgery she had several months ago, on her surrender to God and the peace that brought her, on the blessing that our vocation is, and on the power of the witness to Christ that we can give.

A brief period of group discussion followed Joanne’s talk. Fr. Dominic Tran, SDB provincial, offered a few words, linking the 150th anniversary of the first Salesian missionary expedition last year to the ASC’s anniversary, to the 2026 Strenna, and to the roles of the different characters at the wedding feast in Cana.

Fr. Tom Dunne, SDB provincial delegate for the Cooperators, led everyone (in person and online) in renewing their Cooperator promise. Bernie gave a “good night” (although it was noon) on how each of the province’s centers fulfills Don Bosco’s dream of helping the young in its own way.

With the digital portion of the program concluded, each center was free to continue the celebration locally. In Ramsey, everyone moved to the school’s main chapel for Mass, at which Fr. Dominic presided and preached, and six SDBs concelebrated.

Fr. Dominic’s homily compared St. Paul’s inclusion of his companions in his missionary activity to Don Bosco’s inclusion of many others in his mission to preach the Gospel to the young and to ordinary people. That includes 27,000+ Cooperators now. As Christ sent his apostles, aided by the Holy Spirit, into a hostile world, so he now sends Salesians (lay and consecrated) whom he has chosen and appointed for his mission.

After Mass, the Cooperators, SDBs, and some youths who accompanied Cooperators from Port Chester continued to enjoy the day and the good company over a simple lunch (sandwiches, salad, and pastries) in Don Bosco Prep’s cafeteria. Some activities included lessons on how to make balloon animals and a petting zoo with baby ducks.