The Salesian Cooperators were blessed on the Feast of Don Bosco to welcome new members to the Association at St James's Bootle. Cooperator Sue McDonald writes about the occasion, and the plans for the new Bootle Centre. Photos: Sue McDonald and David McCormick

Fr Jakub and I began a formation programme late in 2019 for a number of parishioners of St James' Parish Bootle to look at becoming Cooperators. Little did they know that it would take over a year before the patient group was able to take their promise and join the association!

On Sunday 31^st January, 8 people gathered during Mass at St James' for the service. Due to restrictions on travel, Jess Wilkinson, the Coordinator of the Salesian Cooperators in GBR, was unable to receive them and so Fr Jakub received Sue, John, Patsy, Jean, Rita, Victoria, Marie and Anne on behalf of the Rector Major.

Matt Jeziorski also attended, and the new cooperators signed their documents at the foot of the altar. It was a very quiet service and we were unable to celebrate together. There were however lovely messages that were sent from, Cooperator Council in Rome and the cooperators in Toronto. More locally the Huyton cooperators who have promised to meet them all as soon as possible.

Bootle Cooperators will now be establishing a new centre once it has been approved by Rome and this group of new Cooperators will become the founding members— a very exciting moment in our province.

Our Province Cooordinator, Jessica Wilkinson commented, 'We are delighted to be welcoming so many new Salesian Cooperators into our association on January 31st! Already very active in their Salesian parish of St James', Bootle, the new Cooperators have been accompanied in their formation over the last 18 months, and will soon become the founding members of a new Salesian Cooperators' Centre. Viva Don Bosco!'

We wish them every blessing for their future and look forward to holding that first historic meeting, hopefully in 2021. Well done to you all and welcome to the association!

I would like to end by asking you to spend a moment in prayer for Hazel Fort, one of the group in formation, who sadly passed away this week. Hazel had been due to join us on Sunday 31^st to become a Cooperator. May she rest in peace, and we will be thinking of her and praying for her at that first meeting.

Sue McDonald

Salesian Cooperator