United we are stronger: “Vis unita fortior”

Pontifical approval of the Society of St Francis de Sales and its Constitutions showed the legal separation that existed between consecrated and non-consecrated in the Salesian mission. Don Bosco, having tried to go down the road of “external members”, set up a more far-reaching organisation and founded the Salesian Cooperators Association with its own apostolic spirituality. Various different profiles flow into this "pious union": the idea of the 'tertiary' or Salesian religious in the world aiming at Christian perfection and charitable and apostolic activity; the idea of the collaborator in Salesian works through catechism lessons, schools and other activities; the idea of the benefactor, supported, sympathiser; the idea of the committed lay person in youth works depending on parish priests and bishops. The result was the birth of a vast network of cooperation spread throughout the world thanks to Don Bosco's and his successors' personal efforts. Every local group under the care of a Director participates in the Salesian mission in their local area a strategic factor in the fruitfulness and development of the works.