Convened and chaired by the World Councillor for the Region, Borja Pérez, the Advisory Council is also composed of the Coordinators of the 7 Provinces of the ASC in Spain and Portugal, as well as the Regional Delegates for the Salesian Cooperators of the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and the members of the Regional Secretariat. In addition, at least two members of the respective ASC Provincial Councils were invited; and this year the event was attended by Antonio Boccia, World Coordinator of the Association of ASCs, and some members of the World Executive Secretariat, who held their monthly meeting in Madrid. Finally, Fr Fernando García and Fr Fernando Miranda, Superiors of the Salesian Provinces of Spain, were also present, accompanying the work on Saturday.
Throughout the weekend, in a beautiful atmosphere of conviviality and fraternity, the annual report of the activities carried out in the pastoral year 2023-2024 in each of the Provinces and in each of the Animation Sectors of the region was presented, confirming the richness of associative life, which throughout the year revolved around the annual motto "Witnesses of a dream" and the different proposals developed by each Province, always in line with this motto.
During the presentation of the Provinces, the outgoing Provincial Coordinators were appreciated and thanked for their service in recent years.
Other topics discussed were the preparation of the Regional Meeting to be held in Malaga in November, in which the Regional Congress will be held in which the Regional Secretariat will be renewed and work will be done on documents of interest for the associative life of the Region, as well as other specific aspects related to the work of the Secretariat, Communication and the Regional Delegation.
Taking advantage of the presence of SEM members in the same place, there was also room for other interventions: Antonio Boccia spoke about the progress made by the World Council in recent years and the different areas of animation and governance of the Association; Sister Lucrecia Uribe, World Delegate for the ASC for the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, presented the proposals for the three-year preparation for the 150th anniversary of the Association; and Raúl Fernández, World Administrator of the Association, presented the 2024 budget worldwide.
In the Sunday Eucharist concluding the work, heartfelt thanks was paid to Fr Eusebio Martínez, Regional Delegate for the last 4 years, for his service, now close to completion.
Borja Pérez
