Friday, May 28, 2010

Don Bosco Summer Camps 2010: A Salesian Perspective


The holiday season is now over. The Don Bosco Summer Camps 2010 (DBSC ’10) will slowly, more than fade into memory, act as a catalyst to bring new meaning and purpose into the lives of many youngsters. The adventure, the fun, the personal growth accompanied with quality ‘me-time’, the making of new friends, living in tents under starry skies, visiting the mission centres in Gujarat, interacting with young energetic Salesian priests and brothers, the deep prayer moments leading to a personal encounter with Christ were all experiences of a kind. Back to school, for many non-campers, the classrooms will soon be their ‘cocoons’ for the next few months… limited to bench-work: reading, writing, arithmetic. For the Bosco Campers, life will be different… ‘Home – School – Church – Playground’ will be the benchmarks for total growth in ‘Body-Mind- Soul-Heart’.
DBSC ‘10 were indeed a new learning experience for many a youngster. The freedom of the open spaces and a youthful family spirit provided the necessary arena for holistic growth. No one who attended the Bosco Summer Camps 2010 ever felt isolated or alone. The secret of the Bosco Summer Camps was simply this: Everyone is Special. I am Gifted, Loved and Capable.
Salesian Youth Ministry revolves around Don Bosco’s insight, ‘love what the young love and they will begin to love you’. Put differently, it simply means ‘when you make what is important to the young important to you, then what is important to you will also become important to them’. Entering through the door of the young person’s world takes courage and confidence. But when we get in there; we realize there is light and shadow, success and failure, hope and despair, meaning and emptiness, the divine and the secular… Salesian Youth Ministry is basically ‘journeying with the Young’ because they are ‘special’, very special indeed.
Youth are the young face. Pope Benedict XVI rightly affirms: “Without this young face, the Church would appear disfigured” (San Paulo, Brazil, May 10, 2007). DBSC ’10 were an opportunity for the young to discover their place in Church and Society. For us Salesians, we make Don Bosco’s vision our own: To accompany them to become Good Christians and Responsible Citizens.
Don Bosco Youth Services (DBYS), Matunga, has over the years been instrumental in enabling young people to discover themselves and to respond with love, hope and meaning to the challenges that life offers them. The numerous Summer Camps: the Mission Camp (Gujarat), the two ‘Beat the Heat’ Leadership camps at Boscowadi (Uttan), the Youth Pasch – an Easter retreat for working youth and the two Vocation Camps for those seeking to discover God’s call were wonderful opportunities for the young to live life more meaningfully.
Accompanying the young is a whole process. It does not end with the Summer Camps alone. The Don Bosco Youth Services (DBYS) continue to provide young people with nourishment for growth in love and life. Lest the Church’s face be disfigured….. let us give young people a opportunity to reconnect with Church and Society.
If you have a heart for the young, why not join hands with us? Contact us at dbysmatunga@gmail.com or call us 24154118 / 24154106

Monday, May 24, 2010

GROUPS AND MOVEMENTS - PROGRAMMES CONDUCTED

20 oct 2009. - Altar Servers Picnic - Province level
10 jan 2010. - Youth Fest - Province level
23 - 24 feb 2010. - Youth Animators Training Programme - Province Level
2010 - Night Vigil at Matunga - DBYS
May 23 , 2010 - Mission Camp - DBYS
May 2010 - Vocation Camps - DBYS
18th March 2010 - Training Programs for Bosco youth groups – DBYS
17th -18th -19th November 2009 - Training Programs for Bosco youth groups –
DBYS
12th -13th-14th March 2010 - Training Programs for Bosco youth groups -
DBYS
Don bosco Narukot - Youth Activities : Leadership training, Skill camp
Chotta Udeipur - Youth Activities :Regarding our bosco youth groups, we have not registered the members yet, but we do have youth activity quite regularly. This year we met at least 4 times. The youth are mostly from our govt. hostels both for boys and girls, and our Fatehpura hostel and our 11th and 12th Science boarders.The numbers vary from 50 to 70. They keep changing according to their studies since most of them move out after having a job or get married
Don Bosco, Suket - Youth Activities: Liturgy, games organisation, help in school programmes. -
Don Bosco, Jabhua - Youth Activities : Leadership programmes, Prayer Vigil, Orientation to life -
St. Anne’s, Ahmednagar - Youth Activities : Social action, Blood donation camp, Altar servers rally, Youth rally. Charismatic convention .- Youth Activities : Inter parish football tournament , Recollection, Get-together,
Don Bosco, Nasik - Youth Activities : Preparation of Star and Crib for the parish, Liturgy, training programmes - Activities :
Don Bosco, Savedi - Youth Activities :Youth Fest, Altar servers rally, Leadership
Resurrection church , Virar - Youth Activities : Organised night vigil, Community games, leadership programme
Jyoti Mata church, Jyoti - Youth Activities : Leadership programme, Parents day, Independance , Training Programme
St. Dominic Savio, Antop Hill - Youth Activities : Night Vigil, parents day, Tele games, Dance
Our Lady of Dolour’s, Wadala West - Youth Activities : Night Vigil, parents day, Tele games, Dance, Mission Fete, programme on stress management.
Don Bosco, Borivali - Youth Activities : form of youth , Novena to mother Mary, Divine healing service, Outreach to those in need, Hospital ministry every 2nd thur.
Don Bosco youth services, Matunga Senior group - Youth Activities : Formation, organising the night vigil, helping in youth services programmes
Don Bosco youth services, Matunga Junior group -Youth Activities : Formation programmes and games

Sunday, May 23, 2010

MISSION CAMP: A TASTE OF GUJARAT
Glenford Lowe sdb
GUJARAT, MARCH 29, 2010: 28 youngsters from various parts of Mumbai ventured on a ‘holiday with a difference’ to the Salesian Missions of Gujarat. Led by Fr. Brian Moras, Fr. Glenn and Br. Jesu, the youngsters left for Vadodara on March 25, 2010 for what would eventually be a life changing experience for one and all. The Mission Camp invited young students of STD X, XII and College to get a firsthand experience of the Salesian Missions of Gujarat. Travelling through the mission stations the young Mission Campers listened to the dreams turned realities by the many pioneers in Gujarat. The difficulties and challenges faced by the Salesians down the years –physical assaults, tragic accidents, political and religious persecutions… the blood of many Salesians mingled in the soil of Gujarat …were but a few drops in the ocean of God’s daily miracles of protection and providence. Twenty five years down the line, the joyful witnessing by the Salesians still continues. The young missionaries were challenged to trust God, believe in their potential and to bring greater meaning to the lives of the tribals around.
The youngsters were also challenged by the many difficulties faced by the tribals of the land and the many social developmental works undertaken by the Salesians to empower the youth and the people of the land. The ‘City’ youngsters were no match to the students in the missions… they lost 3-2 to the under- 14 State Champions!!!!
Without doubt, every camper was touched by the warm hospitality of the Salesians and the simple life style of everyone in the missions. The daily Eucharistic celebrations, the 30 km joy ride on a Tractor, the blistering heat, the tasty food, the lively Ratwa dances and beats, the joy and family spirit of every community added spice to the Mission Camp 2010.
The harvest is great, but the laborers are few…. Many a youngster took time to respond to God’s invitation in their lives. True to their commitment at the start of the Mission Trip, the youngsters will be back for more ch
allenging experiences in the future. All said and done, one could whispers of gratitude “Thanks for making our holiday, a holiday with a difference.”

Thursday, May 6, 2010