Salesian Cooperators of St Philip the Apostle Province at Eastern United States, Eastern United States 00000 - About the Salesian Cooperators

The Salesian Cooperators are the first group of youth ministers established by Don Bosco. He began his work in 1841 by gathering street kids and young workers on Sundays. Turin, Italy was an industrial town at the beginning of the industrial revolution. Child labor was common and because of the economic crisis in the agricultural areas of Italy at the time, great numbers of children and young people were leaving the farms to find work in the cities. The children worked six days a week but had Sundays off. Don Bosco gathered these street kids in vacant lots for a day of play. He brought them to Church for Mass and a catechism lesson.

To help him with the hundreds of boys who came to him, he enlisted the help of several people and a few local priests. Don Bosco knew he would need the help of other committed people of good will to care for the children. He invited people whom he felt had the talent and the desire to minister to young people. His own mother, Margarita, came to help him. Everyone called her Mama Margarita.

With the help of Pope Pius IX, he formed the Association of Salesian Cooperators in 1876. There were no vows. The Cooperators were lay people who live their lives as Don Bosco himself described.

The Salesian Cooperators are single or married lay men and women, or diocesan clergy, who dedicate themselves to the welfare of young people, and live guided by Don Bosco's Salesian Spirit.

Generally, Salesian Cooperators are affiliated with a local Salesian school, parish and youth center. Some work directly in Salesian ministries while others serve in their parishes or other ministries. Some do not work directly with any particular ministry but bring the Salesian Spirit to their work place, profession and family.

The core of the Salesian Cooperator's commitment is to live his or her life as a good Christian and a good Catholic. The Salesian Cooperator embraces a Gospel way of life sharing in the Church's mission to bring Christ to society, especially the young.