Formation to realize the changing role of both Delegate and Cooperator

2nd Topic

Fr. Jose Reinoso, FIN Provincial Delegate

Role of the Delegateand of the Cooperators in the animation of the Association

- Cooperators (laity) should be conscious of their responsibilities in the Church and in the Association.

- Delegates will be among the Cooperators for the purpose of growing together responsibly, each one according to his/her charism.

Educative activity

Three stages in theanimation of the Cooperators

First stage: The age of birth and infancy

The Cooperator is in the situation of receiving and the Delegate in the situation of the one who has all the answers. Delegate does everything. This can happen at the "birth" of a center. In this case, the Cooperator is dependent on the Delegate and on the Salesian setting.

The Cooperator becomes aware of his/her responsibility in the Church, of his/her Christian role, of his/her responsibility within the Association. The Delegate understands that if he does everything, the Cooperators will not grow. The Association matures in its responsibilities even among difficulties.

Second stage: The age of maturingThird stage: A grown-up Association

May be this will lead to some kind of crisis. The crisis will hopefully lead to growth in the Association, and also on the part of the Delegate. Let us thank God if this happens!

This could be a moment of further difficulty. It should certainly lead to the evaluation of the role of the Delegate within the Association in that particular moment and of the Cooperators themselves. It will be again an opportunity for growth for both.

The Cooperator becomes the protagonist of his/her Association and looks at it as something that is his/hers, with a mission not only in the Church but also in the world.

The Delegate assumes a very mature role of presence among them, fostering and not interfering in any way in their growth.

This takes place in different forms and occasions: in the Center, in the day to day encounters, in the fact of being together. Thus the identity of each is seen in terms of different manners of being and living the same Salesian vocation, with the same radicality for all and with the same possibilities of Salesian sanctity and mission.

In final stage, the Delegate and the Cooperator enter into a process of formation and of growth together.

In this context everyone enriches himself/herself. Here all grow and therefore all are in a process of formation. In this environment of growth, the Cooperator will become finally Cooperator, that is, a responsible person in the vocational and missionary aspects. The Cooperators then will have the sense of mission because they will have made Don Bosco's project their own project, just like any true SDB or FMA has done.

The Association at the Local as well as at the Provincial level should study in what stage they find themselves to establish an appropriate plan of formation because each stage will demand a different plan of formation.

A mature Association

What is importantWhat is important is to reach the goal of having a mature Association.

We cannot remain at the level of an Association "train"

Delegate or a particular person or group in the Association

When the engine stops, everything stops

If the Association has reached maturity, it will continue, with less success

perhaps, but it will go on all the same.

1. The moment of "consolidation"

A mature Association

Delegate will take a role that we could call ministerial, a level even beyond the formative one. This will happen in the measure in which Cooperators have been prepared. The Delegate will be with Cooperators as the master of the spirit, the counselor, the witness to the Salesian spirit. In this case the Delegate continues to be a point of reference, but quite different from the time when he was "the train" pulling along the Association.

If Cooperators have assumed their role maturely and responsibly in their

Association.

2. The moment of maturation

A mature Association

The Cooperators become aware of their vocational commitment and they proceed in the road of maturity, of growth, a path that leads to holiness (RVA, 50).

The stage of mutual enrichment and nourishment The groups, who have a clear identity,

each one with its own vocation, enter into a process of permanent formation that is made in communion and reciprocity.

We are bound to mature and work together.

General Chapter 23

Message to the Cooperators:

"Rather than at the organizational level, your presence ('the Cooperators') is to be seen in the

line of apostolic complementarity: you Cooperators concur with the specificity of your

ministry to the fulfillment of the Salesian mission; you are part of us"

A mature Association

A mature Association

- What is the place of the Delegate?

The real question is not the place that we occupy in the Association but whether our presence contributes to the growth of the Cooperators or not.

The Delegate is an educator in the faith. His presence is to let people grow.

A mature Association

- Who is Delegate? What does he/she do?Someone who knows and

loves the Association. He/she has to know or learn at least the ABC of the Cooperators' identity, mission, spirit etc..

It demand time and effort to have a modern and active Association.

Are the Delegates ready to pay it? Are the Cooperators ready to pay it?

The presence of the Delegate in a mature Association

RAL: The Delegate inserts himself/herself responsibly and collegially in the Local or Provincial Council with a very specific task: the Salesian and apostolic formation of the Cooperators.

Stimulate life or vitality in the Association

• Help each Cooperator and the Association in his/her vocational growth.

The presence of the Delegate in a mature association

• Animate the growth of the Cooperators, especially that of the leaders, helping them to discover their talents to be put at the service of all.

Spiritual 'formator' regarding the apostolic and Salesian aspects of the formation of the Cooperators

• He is the master of the spirit, of prayer, of apostolate .

The presence of the Delegate in a mature association

• Keep in mind that formation is a process in which people grow together.

A person with certain particular qualities

The presence of the Delegate in a mature association

Delegate needs some specific qualities and attitudes.

Role as master of the spirit placing himself/herself in the Association depending on what stage of development the Association is in.

Request and prayer to Delegates

Don't desert your place,

Study/know the RAL,

Have as only ambition to have a mature Salesian Association of "True Salesians in the World".

Request and prayer to the Coperators

Don't settle for less than a mature Association.

Make Don Bosco's project your own project.

RAL defines the Cooperator of today: human, Christian, secular, Salesian, apostolic, associated, a true Salesian in the world.

Let us pray and hope that finally the Cooperators' Association reaches that stage of maturity that will not allow it to be always at the starting line.

Conclusion