ACSSA Board of Directors Meets

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.