Therefore, the following were present: Sister Maria Maul, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), President; Sister Maria Imaculada Da Silva, FMA, and Br. José Sobrero Bosch, Salesian of Don Bosco (SDB), Councillors for America; Sister Maria Rohrer, FMA, and Sister Inácia Chaquisse, FMA, Councillor for Africa-Madagascar; Fr Mathew Kapplikunnel, SDB (remotely connected), Councillor for South Asia; Fr Nestor Impelido, SDB, Councillor for East Asia-Oceania; Sister Paola Cuccioli, FMA, and Fr Bogdan Kolar, SDB, Councillors for Europe; Fr Thomas Anchukandam, SDB, Director of the Salesian Historical Institute (ISS); and Fr Stanisław Zimniak, SDB, Secretary-Treasurer of ACSSA.
The Presidency evaluated the first of the six stages of preparation and organisation of the five Continental Seminars (to be held by 2025) and the International Conference (to be held in 2027). The common topic for all these events is the study of Salesian missions in the world. This choice is motivated by the 150th anniversary of the first SDB Missionary Expedition (1875) and the 150th anniversary of the first FMA missionary expedition (1877). The intention is to highlight these two anniversaries with research and studies that will be presented during the continental seminars and the international congress, and to this end, the topics and names of the researchers have been shared.
Subsequently, the second stage began to be planned, from which a first processing of the research results will emerge.
The activities of the six National Sections were also shared: Argentina, Brazil, India, Italy, Spain and Poland.
It was thought to organise an exhibition or a film on the SDB-FMA missions, but the project seemed too ambitious for the Association, which has limited personnel and economic resources. However, given the soundness of the idea, it seems appropriate at least to share it with the central governments of both Congregations, so that they can evaluate whether such a thing is possible.
The members of the Salesian Historical Institute (Rome office) present shared the organisation of the international conference that they are organising on the occasion of the jubilee of the Salesian missions, which will focus solely on Salesian missionary activity.
As on other occasions, the need to update and modernise the https://iss-acssa.org/ site was reiterated, both through an updated graphic design and by using the most popular languages within the Salesian Family (Italian, Spanish, English, Portuguese and French). Sister Imaculada Da Silva and her team have done an excellent job, which is already visible.
The actual involvement of the members of the association in the planned statutory activities and the economic situation of the Association were also examined. In this respect, an attempt was made to cover expenses for scheduled events and for the publication of research. It will then be reflected in the budget once the costs to be incurred are defined, at least in principle.
It seemed important to resume the disclosure of ACSSA's activities not only through the site, but also through publication of the "ACSSA Information Newsletter", also revised in its graphics and setting, and to be published on an annual basis.
The need was felt to share the activities of the ACSSA more with the Superiors, both of the FMA and of the SDB, and to make it known also to the other branches of the Salesian Family, hoping for the latter’s greater involvement in researching their history. Thus a letter was drawn up, addressed to them.
Applications of new candidates were also examined. Sister Sandra Vitalia Armijos Salazar, FMA, from Ecuador; and Fr José Pereira Lima Filho, SDB, from Brazil were admitted.
At the FMA General House the Presidency also met the Secretary General, Sister Maria Luisa Nicastro, and the heads of the Central Archives, who illustrated the material kept and the criteria and methodology of conservation and cataloguing. Bro. Marco Bay, new Director of the Salesian Central Archives, and Fr Guido Garino, SDB Secretary Genera, (who attended online) illustrated for them the situation of the SDB Central Archives.
Finally, the FMA presented the important cultural events which will take place in 2024, to commemorate the centenary of the death of Mother Caterina Daghero (1856-1924), the first Superior General to succeed the co-founder of the Institute, Mother Mazzarello.
