DBM SETS UP LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME
SUVA: 24th June -- The incipient Don Bosco Movement, a flexibale association of youngsters and some not so young launched two months ago in Suva, has taken a small step forward by promoting a Leadership Day for young (s)elected leaders in Class 8 (14 year olds) around Catholic schools in the urban area. The first of these days occurred on Sunday and was hosted by the leaders at St. John Bosco's School - not a Salesian school as such but obviously (and happily) adopted by the Salesians as a youth and apostolic base. Some 60 young leaders attended and the day was managed by the Formation Community from Don Bosco House assisted by young secondary school members of the DBM.
As a follow-up to this initiative, a leaders newsletter has been prepared - initially for the most recent participants, but with a view to extending it to all schools. The training of young leaders appeared to be a gap in the system, in the schools at least. There is already in place a very well-organised post-school Fiji Catholic Youth, but the 13-15 year olds have nothing and some years of observation have suggested that this age group is an interesting 'plug-hole' throughwhich many young Catholics drain away from active involvement in the Church.
