(ANS – Cochabamba) – 1700 young people from all the centres of the Salesian Family in Bolivia gathered together at  Cochabamba, in the “Our Lady of Peace” School of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians between 30 September and 2 October for Campo-Bosco 2011, the most important event of the year for young people, leaders, teachers and religious of the Salesian Family.

With the motto “We have found the Christ,” taken from St John’s Gospel, the opening ceremony was attended by the religious Superiors of the groups of the Salesian Family, by Fr Dominic Sequeira, from the Youth Ministry Department of the Salesian Congregation and by many other guests.

Having been reminded of the story told by the Rector Major in the commentary on the Strenna for 2011 – the caravan in the desert – the young people were invited to look at the different people in the story. On the first day Jesus Christ was the central figure and the riches he gives to each one. To help with the reflection, the youngsters from the “Don Bosco Oratory” in La Paz gave a performance of the story. Work groups were then formed and after that the prenovices performed “Behold the Lamb of God” and then the group from Sucre led a penitential service.

The theme for the second day was “appreciating and understanding the Kingdom of God and its values in contrast with threats and violence” presented by a team from the Don Bosco Peoples’ Schools. In the afternoon everyone went to the parish of Mary Help of Christians for an afternoon at the Oratory and the celebrations for the opening of the three years of preparation for the Bicentenary of the birth of Saint John Bosco. Then, outside the church the young people watched a musical on the life of Don Bosco and a performance by the Student Band of the Dominic Savio School in Cochabamba. The day ended with a short concert of Christian music, by the Beto Soria Group and Fr Ivan Mamani.

On the third day the Team from Santa Cruz presented the theme on vocation “the choice of the Kingdom” showing the importance of living the Christian vocation at the service of others and in the Church. The final Mass was said at mid-day at which Fr Cristóbal Lopez, the Provincial presided, and in his homily he encouraged the young people to appreciate their lives and to live them as a vocation recognising the presence of God (the owner of the vineyard). After Mass everyone was invited to return to their own communities committed to taking with them a joyful witness and the conviction of having met Christ.

Published 07/10/2011