From what has been heard, there has been some controversy in the Association of Salesian Co-operators in Mahajanga in recent years. The members of this Association seem to have died while still alive.

They look like a crushed cricket: alive but without souls. Going back to the root of the problem is no longer of much use, but the important thing has been to resolve it and find a solution together.

To do this, the provincial council office decided to visit the site to see what is happening and to find a solution. Thus, on Saturday March 14 and Sunday March 15, representatives of the national office arrived in Mahajanga to organize the election of new members of the office to manage the local co-operators.

On the afternoon of Saturday, March 14, the national office met with all local members to explain the specific tasks of each member. The Assistant to the Provincial Delegate, Fr. Mamy (SDB) briefly explained the identity of the Salesian Cooperator, insisting that being a Salesian Cooperator is a specific vocation in the Church (Art. 2), it is an Association in the Church (Art. 3), and it is an Association in the Salesian Family (Art. 5). After Mr. Lalasy and Mrs. Olga explained the process, everyone proceeded to the election of the new officers. We rushed to do the elections because of different ideas, but fortunately everything was well advanced and the new office was appreciated by all the voters. Here are the members of the new bureau: Mrs. Nivo (coordinator), Mrs. Fanja (secretary), Mrs. Virginie (administration), Mrs. Haingo (training), Mrs. Justine and Mrs. Felana (advisors). It should be noted that Sr. Liliane is the local delegate of the cooperators in Mahajanga and is in charge of their training. While Fr. Rolland, being responsible for the Salesian Family at the local level, was primarily responsible for the formation of the aspirant-cooperators (basic formation) where the future members are formed little by little before entering the Association.

Early on Sunday morning at the 6am Mass, after the song of thanksgiving, Fr. Mamy blessed the new office so that the members would be courageous and their work would bear more fruit. And after Mass, all the members of the Association of local Salesian Co-operators, with the national office present and Fr. Rolland, organised a party and a moment of sharing at the small beach of Amborovy. It was a wonderful moment because everyone was very satisfied with the time we spent together at the beach, with the fraternal sharing and especially with the festive meal. Let us hope that this Association of Salesian Co-operators in Majunga will continue and grow so that other people may become part of it little by little.

Fr Mamy Augustin , salesian of Don Bosco Ivato