#OzBosco2017 - A wonderful experience

During the weekend 28-30 April, over 150 enthusiastic young people together with Salesian Sisters, Brothers and Priests gathered at St. Joseph's College, Ferntree Gully for #OzBosco 2017.

Friday night was the time for registration, greeting old friends and meeting new friends. Everyone was chatting and exchanging smiles. After dinner people gathered in for a beautiful opening ceremony, concluded with the traditional Salesian Good Night led by the students and staff of Salesian College at Sunbury.

Saturday morning campers woke up to the magnificent scenery of the surrounding area with rolling hills and green trees. After some morning activities and games, everyone gathered again for the keynote speech, delivered by Lauren Hichaaba, Director of the Cagliero Project. After lunch, participants had the opportunity to choose up to three workshops from a total of ten to attend. The Salesian Sisters ran two workshops. One was on the Sudanese, led by Sr. Faye Aboghazaleh, and the other on Maria Mazzarello, led by Sr. Thuy-Linh Nguyen. These workshops provided educational values to participants in a fun and hands-on way.

The next activity was the Amazing Grace, an engaging and energetic game that taught young people many good values, among them, the spirit of teamwork. At one station in the race, we watched a video about Salesian work in Cambodia, and pick up our #OzBosco2017 T-shirts made by the young people in the video. What a meaningful activity!

After dinner came the activity everyone loved - the Bush Dance. The stadium was full with people old and young, many dressed in country clothes, all smiling, laughing and dancing away the whole night. It was indeed the highlight of the day!

Br. Tristan O'Brien led a panel discussion on Sunday morning with some interesting questions for participants to reflect on and discuss. Finally the concluding mass was celebrated by Fr. Greg Chambers, Provincial, and nine con-celebrants, before Fr. Bernie Graham, Vice Provincial, gave a thank you speech to the host school, the organising team and all participants.

Parcipants went home after a wonderful experience, with the hope to see each other again in the next #OzBosco2018.