瑪利亞青少年營

【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2009年10月27日巴布亞新幾內亞 莫爾滋比港訊，austraLasia #2532】 ─ 超過二百五十名稱自己為「三百名敬禮瑪利亞的青少年」，於十月二十四至二十五日聚集一起，進行兩日一夜的宿營活動。敬禮瑪利亞三百於2008年5月24日，在瑪利亞進教之佑聖殿啟用祝聖禮中成立，為使人們效法瑪利亞的德行，並推廣對她的敬禮。

青少年聚集於鮑思高科技學校校園，標誌著聖母月及傳教月的結束，並進行充分時間的反省和培育。宿營活動包括的三場講座，均以進動和平文化為目標。

鑑於暴力問題是太平洋地區所關注的議題之一，因此大會第一名講者，該青少年團的創始人之一Evelyn小姐，進行了有關不要暴力的演說。

Eduardo Revilla神父為第二名講者，他帶領青少年瞻仰鮑思高作為締造和平的人。

Pedro Sachitula修士在演說中表示，如果人願意成為和平締造者，便必需發現並活出本身的召叫。他說：「當我們發現並活出我們的召叫，並真正實踐天主在我們身上的旨意時，那才成為締造和平的人。」他並邀請青少年，爽快回應對他們召叫，成為同輩中的傳教士。

整個活動的籌備人，母佑會Christina Villasanta修女，在當地的電視節目表示，三百名敬禮瑪利亞的青少年成立的主要目的，是要傳揚對瑪利亞的敬禮。另一方面，該團體的神師兼大殿院長Val神父，在同一電視頻道上表示，巴布亞新畿內亞如何轉變，要視乎當地的青少年……因此我們需要栽培他們、信賴他們。

Marian Youth Camp

(ANS – Papua New Guinea - PORT MORESBY, 27 October 2009, austraLasia #2532)  – More than 250 youngsters, who call themselves “The 300 Youth for Mary”, gathered together, over the weekend, 24-25 October, for an overnight camp. The 300 for Mary were founded last year May 24, 2008 on the occasion of the Inauguration of the Mary Help of Christians Shrine, with a view to imitating the Virtues of Mary and propagating devotion to Her.

This time the youths stayed in DBTI (Don Bosco Technological Institute) campus as a way of concluding the Month of both,the Holy Rosary and the Missions on a good note, and having qualiy time for reflection and formation.  Three talks were given, all aiming at fostering a Culture of Peace.

As violence is a matter of concern in this part of the Pacific, Ms Evelyn, one of the co-founders of the group, spoke on non-violence.

Fr. Eduardo Revilla the second speaker, led the youth to look at Don Bosco as a Man of Peace.

Bro Pedro Sachitula spoke on the necessity of discovering and living out one’s vocation if one wanted to be a peacemaker. “We are only men and women of peace when we are true to ourselves according to God’s plan, when we discover and live out our vocation”, he said. And invited the youth not delay  the answer to their call to be missionaries among their peers .

Everything was coordinated by Sr. Christina Villasanta FMA who said on Local TV that the main objective of the 300 Youth for Mary was to spread the devotion to Mary. On the other hand, the Spiritual Moderator of the group and Rector of the Shrine - Fr. Val, profitting from the same channel stated that change in PNG would depend on its youth… and hence the need to invest and believe in them.