THE PVA IL PROGETTO DI VITA APOSTOLICA The

THE PVA IL PROGETTO DI VITA APOSTOLICA The Project of Apostolic Life El projecto de Vida Apostolica Le Projet de Vie Apostolique

GARANTISCE LA FEDELTÀ ALL’ISPIRAZIONE ORIGINALE DI DON BOSCO SALVAGUARDA LA FIDELIDAD QUERIDA POR DON BOSCO GUARANTEES FIDELITY TO DON BOSCO’S ORIGINAL INSPIRATION ASSURE LA FIDELITÉ A L’INSPIRATION ORIGINELLE DE DON BOSCO

The PVA - a historic moment v 1876: Decree of Foundation of the first official Rule of the Pious Association. Don Bosco underlines the apostolic nature of the Association. v 1914 -1963 -1972: The apostolic spirit of the Association weakens. v 1963 -65: Vatican Council II calls for the revision and the revitalization of the original spirit of every Institution in the Church.

The PVA - a historic moment v 1972: The new updated Rule of the Association is born. It seeks to recuperate its apostolic nature. v 1976 : 1 st World Congress v 1985: 2 nd World Congress v 1986: The Rule of Apostolic Life is born (RAL) Characteristic of it is its emphasis on the mission. (cooperatori salesiani*) v 2001: The World Consulta is entrusted with the task of animating the updating of the “RAL”. *With this word order, the Italian puts emphasis on being Cooperators”.

The PVA - a historic moment v 2006: 3 rd World Congress v 2007: The new Project of Apostolic Life (PAL) is promulgated ad experimentum. Characteristic of it is the charismatic identity in living the mission. (salesiani cooperatori*) v 2012: 4 th World Congress DEFINITIVE APPROVAL OF THE STATUTES AND REGULATIONS OF THE PROJECT OF APOSTOLIC LIFE (PVA) v 2013: The Holy See approves the Project of Apostolic Life (PVA). Its distinguishing characteristic: the witness of a life lived within the Church, the Salesian Family, and the world. *With this word order, the Italian puts the emphasis on being Salesians.

137 Years…… WHO ARE WE ? PERSONAL AND MEMBER IDENTITY SPIRITUALLY MATURE PEOPLE CHRISTIANS WITH A LIVELY AND CONVINCED FAITH ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH LAITY CAPABLE OF ANIMATING THE WORLD WITH CHRISTIAN VALUES CHRISTIANS WHO LIVE DON BOSCO’S APOSTOLIC PROJECT

1. The Apostolic Project of the Salesian Cooperators (SSCC)

The PVA is a: • Charter of Identity in the Church, in the Salesian Family, and in society • “Book of life” which must always accompany us • Precious treasure occupying a privileged place • Gospel project describing spiritual riches and our path to sanctity

The PVA has a structure: ONE DOCUMENT IN TWO PARTS THE STATUTES: define the vocational identity, the spirit, the mission, and the principles of the organizational structure (BEING) of the Association. THE REGULATIONS: contain practical points which specify and regulate its actions, methodology, structure, and organization. (DOING)

v. Sacramental: Christian v. Charismatic: Salesian v. Specific: Membership

v. The experience of faith and communion: “United in one heart and one soul” v. The experience of being brothers and sisters, with the sharing of faith, hopes, dreams, ideas, and experiences: to grow together v. The experience of support in one’s vocation and the apostolate

v. Life witness v. Apostolic commitment v. Participation in the life of the Association and of the Salesian Family (sense of belonging)

The PVA is a PROJECT: for living the Gospel: The Beatitudes(Art. 7) A PROJECT communicated by one’s LIFE • with a vital, congruent, and meaningful language (adults who make a difference) • which is lived in the every day. A PROJECT seeking to make the KINGDOM present • listening to the life-giving language of Christ • giving, in different forms but always within the same

ONE DOCUMENT IN TWO PARTS: STATUTES REGULATIONS Charter of Identity Norms Being the Assoc. “Doing” in the Assoc. Foundation Its workings Essential nature Its functioning

The PVA is a PROJECT A gift from God and a personal choice that always go together We must: • be aware of this • discover that it is truly a path to sanctity • know it ever better • live it as a way that leads to love § Making of it a way to be and to live together with others It is a free and conscious response to Don Bosco

The PVA: details the organization of the Association, beginning with its service. Ø It is divided into three areas of governance and animation which guarantee autonomy while fortifying the bonds of union: Local: fundamental nucleus of the Association Provincial: spirit of unity among the Centers World: universality of communion Purpose of the entire structure: To be at the service of the Local Center.

2. The VOCATION of the SSCC

The PVA describes a called to BE APOSTLES VOCATION in the Church (PVA, 2) in the World (PVA, 6) in the Salesian Family (PVA, 5)

The PVA describes a OF APOSTOLIC EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT giving privileged attention to the poorest youth (PVA, 8. 11) • in their family • in their marriage • in their workplace and where they live • in their social, cultural, and political realities employing a method of goodness

The PVA describes our way of BEING: Our style of acting Our style of praying Our style of our community relationships in the Center, the Province, and the Association Our process of discernment and vocational growth (initial and on-going) Our identity and mission in the Salesian Family, in the Church, and in civic society Our internal organization as Association

VOCATION The Profile of the Salesian Cooperator • Someone rich in humanity - Typical element of the humanism of St. Francis de Sales • A baptized person bearing an immense love for the Church, a Disciple of Jesus who lives in temporal realities with a clear identity, practicing a Christian lifestyle • A Salesian-in-the-world, per Don Bosco’s original vision: He wanted the Cooperator to be a passionate collaborator with God through making important choices as regards the Salesian Mission: family, youth, education, Preventive Sytem, and responsibility in society and in the political arena

The Local Center q “Base of operations” q Nucleus and Foundation q Vital unit to reach objectives q The vitality of subsidiarity within the Association depends on it q The bodies at higher levels (Provincial, World) are at its service, are respectful of its autonomy, and foster its ecclesial

AUTONOMY Solidarity in the Association: Local, Provincial, World UNITY Local Center SOLIDARITY Animation Fraternity Formation Sharing Governance Functioning Normative Institutional

The Principle of Solidarity • Seen as a «a human and Christian virtue» • Indissolubly binds each member of the Association to his/her goal • Conquers every purely individualistic conception • Provides the possibility to overcome «politically-correct demands» , offering support for participation in the life of the Association to areas that are weak

The Association’s Autonomy • is realized based on the principle of Economic Subsidiarity • constitutes one of the pillars of the Social Justice Doctrines of the Church • The term is derived from the Latin «subsidium afferre» (to lend aid). • is meant to help the members of society not to «destroy or absorb them» .

The Local Center The SSCC live their membership in the Association: - in autonomy, in solidarity, and in a spirit of communion; - in solidarity with the Salesian Family and with the local Church as laity who are aware that they belong to an International Apostolic Association of

The Local Center - acting in subsidiarity as regards the Provincial grouping by supporting and participating in the formation proposals and the missionary apostolate; - bringing to birth one unified world Association, in the spirit of Don Bosco’s “threads united”.

The Association of Salesian Cooperators (ASSCC) - is recognized by the Apostolic See as a Public Ecclesiastical Juridical Person* whose guarantor before the Holy See is the Rector Major - presents annually its World “Statement of Cash Flow” and Balance, in accord with its financial governance in subsidiarity - has its representative and governmental world headquarters in Rome, Italy *Code of Canon Law (CIC – Codex Iuris Canonicis)

The Association of Salesian Cooperators ASSCC With the authority of the Rector Major safeguarded, the governance and animation of the Association is entrusted to its own Local, Provincial, and World Councils Legal representation of the Association is entrusted to the Coordinator of the respective

The Association of Salesian Cooperators Governance of the ASSCC • the World Coordinator represents the greatest expression of lay membership and enjoys the greatest guarantee conferred by the Satutes and the norms related to a lay ecclesial Association of apostolic communion • Financial governance of the Association is entrusted, in terms of subsidiarity, by the World Council to the respective Provincial

The Association of Salesian Cooperators Financial Governance in Subsidiarity • The Annual Balance Statement is an obligatory Act of the Association*, the burden of whose presentation falls to the World Council. *CIC • The drawing up of the Balance requires collaborative participation, according to hierarchical communion, in the sharing of financial subsidiarity: v The Provincial Councils, therefore, include in their own Balance the necessary

The Association of Salesian Cooperators The Rector Major is. ASSCC its Guarantor; he avails himself of his Vicar or of the World Coordinator for its governance and its administration in union with the following bodies: - the World Council - the World Executive Secretary (SEM*) - the Council for Economic Affairs (SEM) (for administrative governance). *SEM: Segretaria Esecutiva Mondiale

The Association of Salesian Cooperators Administrative Governance in Subsidiarity • The World Treasurer (CIC ): Ø accompanies in a fraternal way the Provincial Councils so that they send him the Financial Statement of Cash Flow, the Balance of Subsidiarity, and the financial contribution within the established deadlines Ø presents the World Balance to the World Executive Secretary (SEM) for approvale and hands it on to the Rector Major, the

The Association of Salesian Cooperators ASSCC As regards Animation, the Rector Major avails himself of: ♦ the World Coordinator, whose role entails the greatest responsibility in representing the ASSCC, ♦ the SEM (the executive body which verifies and encourages apostolic initiatives plans), and ♦ the World Councilor of a given Salesian Region, appointed by the World Coordinator

The Association of Salesian Cooperators ASSCC The Consulta: v is a body created to support the World Council in its service of animation; v works according to an ad hoc handbook approved by the World Council; v entrusts the work of animation, acting as the Vicar of the World Coordinator, to the respective member of the World

2. The MISSION of the SSCC

The Mission YOUTHFUL OF THE PEOPLE MISSIONARY

With Don Bosco’s Preventive System

REASON RELIGION LOVING-KINDNESS

The formation of the honest citizen and the good Christian. “good Christians and honest citizens” Everything that the young need in order to live their human and Christian existence with fullness Educative presence in the social and political realms

The “Gospel of Joy” SALESIAN HUMANISM

Salesian spirituality Don Bosco took his inspiration from St. Francis de Sales for a SPIRITUALITY that is… simple because it’s about the essentials of the people because it is open to everyone attractive because it is laden with human values and, thus, particularly fitting to educational action

Spirituality Salesian prayer is an APOSTOLIC PRAYER LIFE PRAYER

The Pedagogy of Goodness is not just a pedagogical principle; it must also be recognized as an essential element of our spirituality is authentic love is a love manifested in the language of simplicity is love which generates the desire to be corresponded to is a love which engenders trust is a love which is spread, creating a family atmosphere is a love requiring great spiritual energies

THE FORMATIVE JOURNEY OF THE SALESIAN COOPERATOR C ap pr da te hr “s i of m st os ily oc po ia e to ia ss lif ra n a la ll lc n e io i te ib om m na at er m io lis a it n ti m m i on en n ts ” SALESIAN SPIRIT VOCATION In e h t ily am f ar In m e g a ri In l a S ks r o n w a si e In i l a re l a i c o s es i t In n a i s e al SANCTITY s k r o w S Holy Salesian Cooperator = Friend of God & Friend of Man

VISION An Association of Christians who live their apostolic and lay vocation according to the Salesian Charism, in communion with the entire Salesian Family, by committing themselves to build the Kingdom of God in the Church and in society.

MISSION We SSCC, present in the entire world, live the Gospel values according to the charism of Don Bosco and the Social Justice Doctrines of the Church. We defend the values of life and of the family in an authentic spirit of service, in favor of the youngest, poorest, victims of marginalization, exploitation, and violence. We commit ourselves to form honest citizens

CHALLENGES Ecclesial Visibilità ecclesiale visibility Autonomia Visibilit Social à visibility sociale Formation Formazione Comunicazione Communication

VISIBILITY: fundamental choices 1 . 1 PVA, 8 1 2 3 4 Undertake the challenge and Care for in Get involved Salesian promotion of social Meaning/relevance concrete situations Humanism communications

VISIBILITY: fundamental choices 1 Promote Salesian Humanism Put the person at the center whose dignity is to be cared for and fostered in all its expressions. Appreciate all authentically human values. Such values are to be defended and promoted by all.

VISIBILITY: fundamental choices 2 Get involved in concrete situations Get involved on behalf of persons. Identify possible and efficacious ways to respond to emerging needs, always taking inspiration from the guidelines of the Holy Father and the local Bishop.

VISIBILITY: fundamental choices 3 Care for meaning/relevance Defense and promotion of ethical values; defense of the rights of those who are weakest and most vulnerable; efficacious presence in politics, especially where they draw up policy regarding education; Fostering a public opinion built on human, Gospel, and Salesian values.

VISIBILITY: fundamental choices 4 Undertake the challenge and promotion of social communications a tool for personal and communal growth, and together as a defense and a fostering of faith among ordinary folk; an opportunity for education and evangelization; networking and communications at a distance allow for the realization of various forms of aid and also a synergies which were unthinkable in the past.

The PVA will be a BOOK OF LIFE if we live it