Salesian Cooperator Sue McDonald tells us about their very successful online retreat day for the Feast of our founder, Don Bosco:

A huge 'thank you' to those of you who joined us last Saturday! Our Retreat for the Feast of Don Bosco, organised by the Salesian Cooperators, was a fitting celebration in this lockdown time.

We were joined by 65 people from across Europe and the UK, from locations including Berkshire, Bootle, Kendal, Leicester, Scotland, Wales, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Crawley, Cowley, Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Greater Manchester, Bolton, Bristol, Battersea, Newcastle upon Tyne, Chertsey, Beckenham, and from all parts of the Salesian Family.

After a welcome from our Coordinator Jess Wilkinson, with some very excited people meeting up online for the first time in years, we were led in morning prayer by the Cooperator Formation Lead, Kate Wilkinson.

The main input was led by an Italian Cooperator, Renato Cursi. Renato is the Executive Secretary of Don Bosco International (DBI) based in Brussels, and a PhD candidate in Youth Studies at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome. He is well known by the youth ministry department of our GBR Province because he was the Secretary of the Salesian Youth Ministry Department in Rome (General House) from 2014 to 2019.

Renato shared his beautiful and thought-provoking reflections on the Rector Major's strenna, and a video of his presentation will be available on the Cooperators' website as soon as it is ready. Suffice to say here, that it was received with joy by all who attended.

In the afternoon, we gathered again to share our reflections, guided by questions posed by Renato on hope, faith and love. We met once more in the evening for prayer led by our (at that time) newest Cooperator, Dan Antonio, followed by a goodnight and solemn blessing from Fr David O'Malley.

Our festive weekend closed on Sunday, the Feast of Don Bosco, with 8 new Cooperators being received into the association in Bootle.

Sue McDonald

Salesian Cooperator