Its members:

- President, Sister Maria Maul FMA;

- Secretary-Treasurer, Fr Stanisław Zimniak SDB.

- Continental Councilors for America, Sister Maria Imaculada Da Silva FMA, and Br. Ariel Ivan Fresia SDB;

- Continental councilors for Africa-Madagascar, Inácia Chaquisse FMA, and Maria Rohrer FMA;

- Continental councilor for South Asia, Fr Matthew Kapplikunnel SDB;

- Continental councilor for East Asia-Oceania, Fr Nestor Impelido SDB;

- Continental Councilors for Europe, Sr. Paola Cuccioli FMA, and Fr Bogdan Kolar SDB;

- as ex officio member, as Director of the Salesian Historical Institute in Rome, Fr Thomas Anchukandam SDB.

The Association of Salesian History Scholars (ACSSA) was officially founded by the Rector Major, Fr Juan Edmundo Vecchi by decree on October 9, 1996, and its renewed Statutes were approved by the Rector Major, Fr. Ángel Fernández Artime, on May 24, 2016. Its specific identity and nature are spelled out in the statutes; it is governed by a Presidency of which the Director of the ISS is a member. According to its charter, ACSSA designs and implements its plans in close collaboration with ISS.

The primary purpose of the ACSSA is codified in its Statute in these terms: "The aim of the Association of Salesian History Scholars is to promote studies on Salesian history, fostering research, collaboration among members, animating the Salesian Family from the historiographical point of view, disseminating knowledge about Don Bosco and the Congregations, Associations, and Groups that originated from him, in dialogue with similar civil and religious institutions" (Art. 1).

From its inception to the present day, the ACSSA has managed to organize 24 Continental Conventions and 7 World Congresses. The results of this copious activity can be found in the 10 robust volumes published in the "ACSSA-STUDI" series, and in addition, in the 9 volumes of the "ACSSA-VARIA" series, the research of individual members and also the proceedings of the two continental conferences have been published.

Over the years, "National Sections" have been founded: ACSSA-Poland, ACSSA-Spain, ACSSA-Italy, ACSSA-Argentina, ACSSA-Brazil, and ACSSA-India. According to their regional focus, they have promoted various initiatives to foster the process of research, study, and protection of the cultural heritage of the Salesian Family.

Currently, the association has 199 members (77 FMA, 100 SDB, and 22 lay people and members of other groups of the Salesian Family) representing the Salesian presence in all continents. The majority of its members are history enthusiasts engaged as "volunteers" in research activities of Salesian interest, however, supported in this activity by a quite numerous group of professional historians and especially by members of the Salesian Historical Institute in Rome.

The new presidency made a binding decision for all ACSSA members to concentrate their forces to study the missionary theme, proposed by Don Bosco as the second aim of the religious instances founded by him. This choice is motivated by the anniversaries of the 150th anniversary of the first missionary expedition of the Salesians (1875) and the 150th anniversary of the first missionary expedition of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (1877). It is intended to enhance these two anniversaries with research and studies to be presented at upcoming continental seminars and at the international congress.

On the ISS-ACSSA website, located on the Congregation's official website, it is possible to learn about its past and present activities.

Edited by Fr Stanisław Zimniak sdb

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