Calamba City (Philippines). From 29 July to 1 August 2024, the Mornese Center of Spirituality in Pansol, Calamba City, Laguna, hosts the CIAO Youth Camp 2024, the meeting of young people from the Provinces of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the Interprovincial Conference for Eastern Asia (CIAO): Philippines – Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong – Macao – Taiwan, Cambodia – Myanmar, Vietnam, South Korea – Mongolia, Japan, Thailand, East Timor – Indonesia.
“Young dreamers: empowering dreams for a just and sustainable world” is the theme of the days, taking the Bicentenary of the Dream at nine years old as a starting point, to encourage and enable young people to become agents of positive change.
The camp started with a lively parade of delegates, who proudly showed their national costumes, giving a tone of color and celebration to the event, made precious by the presence of Sister Runita Borja, FMA, General Counselor for Youth Ministry. The Provincial of St. Mary D. Mazzarello Province (FIL), Sister Teresita Padron, gave a warm welcome to all the participants, including the Provincial of Morning Star Province (KOR), the Coordinators of Youth Ministry, the FMA, the young people, the lay collaborators of the mission, and the organizing committee of the FIL Province.
Sister Teresita stressed the importance of the Dream of Don Bosco as a milestone of the Salesian charism and recalled that the encounter also wants to be a concrete response to the appeal of the Pope Francis to take care and safeguard the planet. Recognizing the crucial role of young people in this challenge, she expressed her gratitude to the CIAO School, represented by Sister Cecilia Kim, to the FMA FIL SYM, and to the Youth Ministry, with the Coordinator Sister Maria Victoria Sta. Ana, for their important contribution to the Youth Camp.
The opening ceremony was followed by a Eucharistic Celebration, presided by Fr. Eligio Cruz, Salesian of Don Bosco of the Province of St. John Bosco (FIN), who in his homily drew a parallel between the biblical narrative of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus and the lives of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello, highlighting common dreams and visions. He asked young people stimulating questions to encouraging them to reflect on their aspirations, the influences that shaped them, and the role of the family, whose priceless support in the realization of their dreams. He urged the young people to persevere in their commitment, assuring them of the importance of constant work and prayer and motivating them to embrace their dreams with courage and determination.
After the Holy Mass, in his presentation on “Don Bosco’s dream and youth leadership,” Don Eligio invited young people to embark on a journey to discover the actuality of Don Bosco’s vision – dream conceived two centuries ago – in their daily lives. He empowered young people from all over Asia and the Pacific, looking at them as active protagonists of Don Bosco’s legacy and comparing them to lambs destined for holiness. This was the desire of Don Bosco: to cultivate young leaders who would animate and accompany their companions towards holiness.
Drawing on the profound wisdom of the Scriptures, Father Eligio highlighted the importance of God’s personal call in shaping each individual’s leadership path. He stressed the importance of faith and unconditional love as the foundation of service leadership, and encouraged young leaders to internalize these values and extend them to their own peers, promoting a compassionate and caring community.
To further stimulate and challenge the young people, Fr. Eligio shared the profound reflections of Don Bosco’s successors, Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime and Pascual Chávez Villanueva. Their words are powerful propellers in affirming the potential of young people and their decisive role in building a better world.
Photos and video: Salesian Youth Movement FMA – FIL
