austraLasia #3028
Noah's Ark reinvented by China Salesian Youth Services!
HONG KONG -- The annual Salesian Family youth gathering for China Province – The Salesian Youth Day 2012 - was held on 25 February 2012. The theme was “Responding to the Invitation of Life”. The organiser assisted participants in reflection on what kind of talents that God had given them through a series of activities and challenges.
Salesian Youth Day 2012 unfolded as a whole-day event by using the story of the ark. All participants were asked to board the ark. Before the ark anchored alongside the shore, the rainbow heralding a hopeful future guided crew members and passengers to equip and prepare themselves to face the challenges after landing. This they did by singing, dancing and playing games.
After landing, their goal was to establish a new society on a resource-insufficient wasteland. Through the co-operation of different teams, the five essential elements of society – clothing, food, housing, transportation and religion, represented by different colours of small houses, were exchanged among them. Their tasks were classified into ten categories, ranging from challenges to personal ability to team co-operation. They were required to finish as many task categories as possible in the shortest time available. At the end of the event, participants found out that it was impossible to build all five small houses with the ability of one single team. They needed the co-operation of other teams in order to achieve the goal of establishing a society. This showed that apart from utilising their own individual talents, Salesian youth need to co-operate with others to utilise and to develop their talents. As all talents are granted by God, we cannot live on our own without God.
Fr. Simon Lam, Provincial of China Province commented, “Today we come to celebrate life, to celebrate Jesus who offers his life to influence us.” Fr. Simon invited all Salesian youth to start with their own community, pro-actively involve themselves and adopt the motto: “Let me do it!” as their life style. He hoped Salesian youth would become “The Star” for others around them and would illuminate them. “We should try to influence others by our example and show others that being a Salesian youth or being close to a Salesian youth is a good thing.”
This year, Salesian Youth Day concluded with a thanksgiving mass which was celebrated by Cardinal Joseph Zen. He commenced his sermon by saying that responding to the invitation of life was a very attractive theme. He said, “Life is like a capital that needs to be managed properly. Everyone is unique and should live his life fully. By allowing Jesus to come into our lives, we can together build a community that belongs to the church.” Moreover, Fr. Antonio Leung, Leader of Salesian Youth Ministry, quoted the Cardinal Zen’s words: “God creates us as unique individuals.” and invited each one of us to be a true Salesian youth. “Let me become Salesian Youth No. 1, and build this world together with God.” At the end, after the whole day’s event, we left with an exhausted body but a fruitful heart.
Noah's Ark reinvented by China Salesian Youth Services!
Salesian Youth Day 2012: Utilizing everyone’s strengths, responding to God’s invitation of life
Salesian Youth Day 2012 unfolded as a whole-day event by using the story of the ark. All participants were asked to board the ark. Before the ark anchored alongside the shore, the rainbow heralding a hopeful future guided crew members and passengers to equip and prepare themselves to face the challenges after landing. This they did by singing, dancing and playing games.
After landing, their goal was to establish a new society on a resource-insufficient wasteland. Through the co-operation of different teams, the five essential elements of society – clothing, food, housing, transportation and religion, represented by different colours of small houses, were exchanged among them. Their tasks were classified into ten categories, ranging from challenges to personal ability to team co-operation. They were required to finish as many task categories as possible in the shortest time available. At the end of the event, participants found out that it was impossible to build all five small houses with the ability of one single team. They needed the co-operation of other teams in order to achieve the goal of establishing a society. This showed that apart from utilising their own individual talents, Salesian youth need to co-operate with others to utilise and to develop their talents. As all talents are granted by God, we cannot live on our own without God.
Fr. Simon Lam, Provincial of China Province commented, “Today we come to celebrate life, to celebrate Jesus who offers his life to influence us.” Fr. Simon invited all Salesian youth to start with their own community, pro-actively involve themselves and adopt the motto: “Let me do it!” as their life style. He hoped Salesian youth would become “The Star” for others around them and would illuminate them. “We should try to influence others by our example and show others that being a Salesian youth or being close to a Salesian youth is a good thing.”
This year, Salesian Youth Day concluded with a thanksgiving mass which was celebrated by Cardinal Joseph Zen. He commenced his sermon by saying that responding to the invitation of life was a very attractive theme. He said, “Life is like a capital that needs to be managed properly. Everyone is unique and should live his life fully. By allowing Jesus to come into our lives, we can together build a community that belongs to the church.” Moreover, Fr. Antonio Leung, Leader of Salesian Youth Ministry, quoted the Cardinal Zen’s words: “God creates us as unique individuals.” and invited each one of us to be a true Salesian youth. “Let me become Salesian Youth No. 1, and build this world together with God.” At the end, after the whole day’s event, we left with an exhausted body but a fruitful heart.
