THE PVA IL PROGETTO DI VITA APOSTOLICA The Project of Apostolic Life

1. THE PVA IL PROGETTO DI VITA APOSTOLICA The Project of ApostolicLife El projecto de Vida Apostolica Le Projet de VieApostolique

2. 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

3. The PVA - a historicmoment • 1876:Decree of Foundation of • thefirstofficial Rule of thePiousAssociation. Don Bosco underlinestheapostolicnature • of theAssociation. • 1914-1963-1972: Theapostolicspiritof theAssociationweakens. • 1963-65: Vatican Council II callsfortherevision and therevitalization of the original spirit of everyInstitution in theChurch.

4. The PVA - a historicmoment • 1972: The new updated Rule of theAssociationisborn. Itseeksto • recuperateitsapostolicnature. • 1976 :1stWorldCongress • 1985: 2ndWorldCongress • 1986:The Rule of ApostolicLifeisborn (RAL) • Characteristic of itisitsemphasison • themission. (cooperatorisalesiani*) • 2001:TheWorld Consulta isentrustedwith • thetask of animatingtheupdating of the “RAL”. • *Withthiswordorder, theItalianputsemphasisonbeingCooperators”.

5. The PVA - a historicmoment • 2006: 3rdWorldCongress • 2007: The new Project of ApostolicLife (PAL) ispromulgatedad experimentum.Characteristic of itisthecharismaticidentityin living themission. (salesianicooperatori*) • 2012: 4thWorldCongress • DEFINITIVE APPROVAL OF THE STATUTES AND REGULATIONS OF THE PROJECT OF APOSTOLIC LIFE (PVA) • 2013:TheHolySeeapprovestheProject of ApostolicLife (PVA). Itsdistinguishingcharacteristic: thewitness of a lifelivedwithintheChurch, the Salesian Family, and theworld. *Withthiswordorder, theItalianputstheemphasisonbeing Salesians.

6. 137 Years…… WHO ARE WE ? PERSONAL AND MEMBER IDENTITY CHRISTIANS WITH A LIVELY AND CONVINCED FAITH SPIRITUALLY MATURE PEOPLE ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH CHRISTIANS WHO LIVE DON BOSCO’S APOSTOLIC PROJECT LAITY CAPABLE OF ANIMATING THE WORLD WITH CHRISTIAN VALUES

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

8. The PVA is a: • Charter of Identity in theChurch, in the Salesian Family, and in society • “Book of life”whichmustalwaysaccompanyus • Precioustreasureoccupying a privileged place • Gospelprojectdescribing spiritual riches and ourpathtosanctity

9. The PVA has a structure: ONE DOCUMENT IN TWO PARTS THE STATUTES: define thevocationalidentity, thespirit, themission, and theprinciples of theorganizationalstructure of theAssociation. THE REGULATIONS: containpracticalpointswhichspecify and regulateitsactions, methodology, structure, and organization. (BEING) (DOING)

10. THE PVA has a SPIRIT: of unity: • Sacramental: Christian • Charismatic: Salesian • Specific: • Membership

11. THE PVA has a SPIRIT: of family: • Theexperience of faith and communion: • “Unitedin oneheart and onesoul” • Theexperience of beingbrothers and sisters, withthesharing of faith, hopes, dreams, ideas, and experiences:togrowtogether • Theexperienceof support in one’svocation and theapostolate

12. THE PVA has a SPIRIT: of Co-responsibility: • Lifewitness • Apostoliccommitment • Participation in thelife of theAssociation and of the Salesian Family (sense of belonging)

13. The PVAis a PROJECT: for living theGospel:The Beatitudes(Art. 7) • A PROJECT communicatedbyone’s LIFE • with a vital, congruent, and meaningfullanguage • (adultswhomake a difference) • whichislived in theeveryday. • A PROJECT seekingtomakethe KINGDOM present • listeningtothelife-givinglanguage of Christ • giving, in differentformsbutalwayswithinthesameMission, concrete responses totheneeds of thepoor.

14. ONE DOCUMENT IN TWO PARTS: • REGULATIONS • Norms • “Doing” in theAssoc. • Itsworkings • Itsfunctioning STATUTES Charter of Identity BeingtheAssoc. Foundation Essentialnature

15. The PVA is a PROJECT A giftfromGod and a personal choice thatalwaysgotogether • Wemust: • beaware of this • discoverthatitistruly a pathtosanctity • knowiteverbetter • liveit as a waythat leads tolove • Making of it a waytobe and tolivetogetherwithothers • Itis a free and conscious response to Don Bosco

16. The PVA: detailstheorganization of theAssociation, beginningwithitsservice. • Itisdividedintothreeareasof governance and animationwhichguaranteeautonomywhilefortifyingthebonds of union: • Local: fundamental nucleus of theAssociation • Provincial: spirit of unityamongthe Centers • World:universality of communion • Purpose of theentirestructure: • Tobe at theservice of the Local Center.

17. 2. The VOCATION of the SSCC

18. The PVA describes a calledto BE APOSTLES in the Church (PVA, 2) VOCATION in the World (PVA, 6) in the Salesian Family (PVA, 5)

19. Vocation The PVA describes a OF APOSTOLIC EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT givingprivilegedattentionto thepoorestyouth(PVA,8.11) • in theirfamily • in theirmarriage • in theirworkplace and wheretheylive • in their social, cultural, and politicalrealities • employing a method of goodness

20. The PVAdescribes ourway of BEING: Ourstyle of acting Ourstyle of praying Ourstyle of ourcommunityrelationshipsin the Center, theProvince, and theAssociation Ourprocess of discernment and vocationalgrowth(initial and on-going) Ouridentity and missionin the Salesian Family, in theChurch, and in civicsociety Ourinternalorganization as Association

21. VOCATION • TheProfile of the Salesian Cooperator • Someonerich in humanity - Typicalelement of thehumanism of St. Francis de Sales • A baptizedpersonbearinganimmenselovefortheChurch, a Disciple of Jesuswholives in temporal realitieswith a clearidentity, practicing a Christian lifestyle • A Salesian-in-the-world, per Don Bosco’s original vision: • He wantedtheCooperatortobe a passionatecollaboratorwithGodthroughmakingimportantchoices as regardsthe Salesian Mission: family, youth, education, PreventiveSytem, and responsibility in society and in thepolitical arena

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

23. Solidarity in theAssociation: Local, Provincial, World UNITY Animation Local Center Fraternity Formation Sharing AUTONOMY Governance SOLIDARITY Functioning Normative Institutional

24. 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

25. 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».

26. 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 Faithful;

27. 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”.

28. 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 IurisCanonicis)

29. The Association of Salesian CooperatorsASSCC 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 Council

30. The Association of Salesian CooperatorsGovernance 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 and Local Councils;

31. The Association of Salesian CooperatorsFinancial 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: • The Provincial Councils, therefore, include in their own Balance the necessary Statements of the Local Councils within their jurisdiction.

32. The Association of Salesian CooperatorsASSCC The Rector Major is 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

33. The Association of Salesian CooperatorsAdministrative Governance in Subsidiarity • The World Treasurer (CIC ): • 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 • presents the World Balance to the World Executive Secretary (SEM) for approvale and hands it on to the Rector Major, the Guarantor before the Apostolic See.

34. The Association of Salesian CooperatorsASSCC 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 as his/her Regional Vicar to foster its growth in the Salesian Family and in the Church

35. The Association of Salesian CooperatorsASSCC The Consulta: • is a body created to support the World Council in its service of animation; • works according to an ad hoc handbook approved by the World Council; • entrusts the work of animation, acting as the Vicar of the World Coordinator, to the respective member of the World Council who is charged with representing his/her Salesian Region.

36. 2. The MISSION of the SSCC

37. The Mission youthful Of the people missionary

38. With Don Bosco’s Preventive System

39. REASON RELIGION LOVING-KINDNESS

40. 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

41. The “Gospel of Joy” SALESIAN HUMANISM trust in the victory of the good appreciation for human values education to the joys of daily life

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

43. Spirituality Salesian prayer is an APOSTOLIC PRAYER LIFE PRAYER

44. 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 is spread, creating a family atmosphere is a love which engenders trust is a love requiring great spiritual energies

45. THE FORMATIVE JOURNEY OF THE SALESIAN COOPERATOR apostolate professionalism daily life “social liberation” Christian animation in temporal commitments SALESIAN SPIRIT VOCATION SANCTITY SALESIAN SPIRIT In marriage In the family In Salesian works In social realities In Salesian works Holy Salesian Cooperator = Friend of God & Friend of Man

46. VISION AnAssociation of Christianswholivetheirapostolic and lay vocationaccordingtothe Salesian Charism, in communionwiththeentire Salesian Family, bycommittingthemselvestobuildtheKingdom of God in theChurch and in society.

47. MISSION We SSCC, present in theentireworld, livetheGospelvaluesaccordingtothe charism of Don Bosco and the Social Justice Doctrines of theChurch. Wedefendthe values of life and of thefamily in anauthenticspirit of service, in favor of theyoungest, poorest, victims of marginalization, exploitation, and violence. Wecommitourselvestoformhonestcitizens and goodChristianscapable of transformingsociety.

48. challenges Visibilità ecclesiale Ecclesial visibility Autonomia Autonomy Visibilità sociale Social visibility Formazione Formation Comunicazione Communication

49. VISIBILITY: fundamental choices PVA, 8.11 1 2 3 4 Salesian Humanism Undertake the challenge and promotion of social communications Care for Meaning/relevance Get involved in concrete situations

50. Promote Salesian Humanism 1 VISIBILITY: fundamental choices 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.