By Fr. Bernie Graham, SDB

Apia, Samoa - The annual gathering of the SYM in Samoa is taking place over this special bicentenary weekend at Don Bosco Alafua in Apia, the capital of Samoa.

All the Salesians and Salesian Sisters in Samoa have gathered with about 250 of the youth from all the SDB and FMA presences in Samoa: Don Bosco Technical Centre Alafua, Don Bosco Paraish Sinamoga-Moamoa, St Michael’s Parish Leauva’a, Don Bosco College and St Francis de Sales Parish Salelologa and the most recently established presence the Salesian Sisters Youth Group from Malololelei. FMA Provincial Sr Edna Mary MacDonald and SDB Vice-Provincial Fr Bernie Graham also came from Australia to be present for this great Pacifican celebration.

The theme of the gathering was the 2015 Strenna Like Don Bosco, With the Young, For the Young.

In typical Samoan style, the opening evening was filled with music, movement and lively celebration. In the opening presentation The Gift of Don Bosco to the World Fr Chris Ford both outlined six particular aspects of the gift that Don Bosco is to the world and challenged all to both accept these gifts, live by them and share them with others.