By Hilario Seo

15 February 2015, Daejeon: 250 young people gathered at the Salesian Youth Center in Daejeon with “Take off your Sandals” as the theme of their gathering for the 4^th edition of SYDK (Salesian Youth Days in Korea.

The principal theme of this year is the Israel people’s deep experience of God. The youngsters joined the SYDK within the two nights and three days’ program, trying to realize that experience of God through leaving from the routine and sharing their own life story as led by God.

The majority of these youngsters belong to the Salesian movement, run by the local communities with the name of “Bosconian” since 2008 Korea Salesian Youth Day which is a fruit of the cooperation between the Salesian family group, SDB, FMA, SCG (Suore della Carità di Gesù) and SYM leaders, especially those who are involved in the field of youth ministry

Young people from all over the country, staying together with Salesians, reflecting the Israel people’s story and experiencing to leave for the desert, had the time to explore God’s plan for each of them. In particular, from the reflection on the life in the desert, they learned what is the meaning of following God’s calling, that is nothing when related to the special person but each of us has to leave our own safety and comfort zone to reach the promised land and in the words of Pope Francis, the “periphery”.

“Being young, in other words, means that we have dreams. Like Don Bosco, each one of you, young people, make your dream and effort to realize it. We, Salesians are always going to accompany your journey in its actualization.” Fr. Valentin Shin, Provincial Youth Ministry Delegator and main director of SYDK 2015 expressed his best wishes during the closing mass homily, encouraging young people to enforce the SYM more actively in the society of the uncertainty era to help many young people who live hardly with no dream to leave. “Even though the demand of leaving from the accustomed life style is always painful and provokes a strong reaction like seen in the Exodus, we should have the courage to ask to young people who have a strong tendency, who don’t have a fixed desire to find more value in life but also don’t move even in front of a fatal accident.” said Fr. John Jeon, the executive director of the SYDK 2015 when he explained the motive of selecting the theme. “I would like to give this fantastic experience to my friends around me. In 3 days and 2 nights of SYDK, I certainly was able to know how much big is God’s love, and that love continues to be passed to us through Don Bosco and even today by the Salesians. I decided to propose to my friends, taking off their sandals in order to find new dimension of the faith.”

Like the testimony of a youth who participated in the SYDK we hope to spread to the entire country, and to the whole world God’s love for the young.