Meeting of
the ACSSA Board of Directors
By Sr. Paola Cuccioli and Fr. Stanislaw Zimniak(ANS –
Rome – November 13, 2024) –
The board of directors of the Salesian History Association (ACSSA) met from November
8 to 10 at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome. The meeting, attended by
the various representatives of the associates from around the world, was also
enriched by a meeting with Cardinal Angel Fernandez Artime, rector major emeritus.
The work
involved Sr. Inacia Chaquisse of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (Mozambique), Ms.
Pamela Alarcon (Argentina), Sr. Maria Imaculada Da Silva (Brazil), Sr. Maria
Rohrer (Tunisia), Fr. Matthew Kapplikunnel (India), Fr. Nestor Impelido (Philippines),
Sr. Paola Cuccioli (Italy), Sr. Maria Maul (Austria), Fr. Bogdan Kolar (Slovenia)
and Fr. Stanislaw Zimniak (Poland-Italy).
The presence
of Fr. José Mendonça, Superior of the UPS Vice-Province, Fr. Francesco Motto,
and Sr. Grazia Loparco, former presidents of ACSSA, and Sr. Maria Luisa
Nicastro, secretary general of the FMAs, further embellished the meeting with
interesting content and challenges.
Fr. Motto
recalled the responsibility entrusted to the members of the association to keep
the Salesian historical memory alive; otherwise it risks being lost. Sr.
Loparco urged a study of the past to discover the seeds of a future yet to be
imagined. Sr. Nicastro recalled how the mother general of the FMAs, Sr. Chiara
Cazzuola, and her council, through official communications to the Institute,
are committed to soliciting missionary origins in the provinces and in
particular to supporting the members of the ACSSA in their commitment to the
study of history.
After these
enlightening reflections, the board focused on the organization of the continental
seminars (Africa, Americas, South Asia, Europe, East Asia-Oceania) and on the world
congress to be held in Brazil, the focus of which will be the Salesian missions
on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the 1st SDB Missionary Expedition (1875-2025)
and that of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (1877-2027).
The
individual programs for each event have been presented, which will provide in
all circumstances 2 types of contributions:
The general
issues:
–
women’s missions;
–
the concept of mission in different historical periods;
–
the influence of missionaries in different contexts and cultural areas;
and specific
contributions:
–
biographies of missionaries;
–
architecture and urban planning;
–
the contribution of the press in spreading the testimony of the missionaries in
places of action;
–
the contribution of missionaries in safeguarding the specific nature of
indigenous peoples through the conservation/decoding of their language, their
customs, and other specific details;
–
education and evangelization through the different places of education:
schools, oratories, vocational courses, parishes, playgrounds;
–
and the different areas of cultural expression: study, music, theater, sports,
literature, groups.
The speakers
will be not only SDBs and FMAs, but also other members of the Salesian Family
and external scholars who are passionate about Salesian history and missionary
activity.
The meeting
of the ACSSA board was also enriched by meeting with Cardinal Fernandez, who
during his term of office always paid great attention to Salesian history,
highlighting not only the origins and development of Don Bosco’s work, but also
the challenges and perspectives that arise from it. Once again he stressed in
his address that research and study are a privileged and crucial aspect for
accepting and living the Salesian charism.
During the
work, the activities of the 6 national sections – Poland, Argentina, Italy,
Brazil, Spain, India – and of the individual members were also examined. Among
other things, the updated website of the
Association and the annual magazine ACSSA informa, also
accessible online, were presented.
Furthermore,
Ms. Pamela Alarcon presented a valuable project to connect all the historical
archives of the SDBs and the FMAs thru the Rhizome Project, which will be
explored soon.
The treasurer
of the Association explained finances, illustrating the financial trend and
noting the relevance of registration fees for ACCSA to perform well.
Finally, the
publications members of ACSSA published over the year were recalled and others
were approved pending publication.
The
Association finally ratified the registration of 9 new members:
– Ana MARTÍN GARCÍA, laywoman,
Spanish;
– Gonzalo VIOLANTE, layman,
Argentine;
– Bro. João Bosco MONTEIRO
MACIEL, SDB, Brazilian;
– Fr. Edson Donizetti CASTILHO,
SDB, Brazilian;
– Rodolfo Luís LEITE BATISTA,
layman, Brazilian;
– Sr. Maria da Paz MILANEZ, FMA,
Brazilian;
– Mr. Samuel RESENDE DALDEGAN,
Salesian Lay Cooperator, Brazilian;
– Bro. Albert RAMADAN, SDB,
Chadian, active in Tunisia;
– Mr. Rinio BRUTTOMESSO, layman,
Italian.