SYM Activities

CHILDREN’S FEST

by Richard Roy Tañada

Last August 29, the Salesian Youth Movement held its first CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL. The event was an initiative of the SYM Council to gather all elementary members of the different sodalities affiliated in the movement as well as the kids coming from the catechism classes of the youth centers and parishes. Over 400 participants coming form 13 settings – both Salesian and Non-Salesian, gathered in Don Bosco Youth Center, Tondo for a whole day of fun-filled activity for the kids. The Federation of the Catechists facilitated the games with the help of the Savio Friends Club who acted as marshals together with the youth of Don Bosco Tondo. The Federation of the Choirs and Musicians, Knights of the Altar, namely, & other youth members of the different sodalities affiliated in the SYM joined together to make the gathering a successful one. With the theme: “Batang Salesyano Araw Mo’To, At Home Ka Dito”, Fr. Ian Rosal, SDB gave his inspirational message citing “Santino” of the ABS-CBN TV Program,”May Bukas Pa” as an example how important a child is in the eyes of God. The gathering turned out to be a successful one and is likely to be continued next year.

SYM FORMATION PROGRAMS

by Richard Roy Tañada

As a respond to the request of most of the lay animators / moderators especially in the school settings, the Salesian Youth Movement came up in organizing a series of formation program intended to assist them in animating their respective youth groups in their particular setting. It is a half day seminar which introduces the new animators in the fundamentals of youth ministry and a refresher course for the old ones. The program is likely patterned in the Animator’s School conducted before by the SYM.

The series of formation started with an orientation last July 25 held at the Audio Visual Room at the SJB Parish Makati City, facilitated by the SYM Council. The first in the series of formation focused on the Basic Approach in Youth Ministry – offering the participants a learning process of how we are to journey with the young as well as the necessary skills for journeying with, to, for and by the young. It was held last August 15 at the SYCAmore Office SJB Parish Makati City with Fr. Noel Sumagui, SDB of DB Batulao as the speaker. Fr. Eduardo “Duds’ Hila, SDB of TVET Tondo with his prowess in the topic of Animating Youth Groups facilitated the forty participants who attended 2^nd formation last September 19 in SJB Parish Makati City. Participants had the chance to get to know of the nature and purpose of youth groups and how to animate them. The third and last of the series will be conducted by Fr. Favie Faldas, SDB, Rector of DBTI Tarlac on October 17 in San Idelfonso Parish, Makati. The seminar offers Skills and Strategies in Youth Ministry of how to make formation program designs for the youth groups as well as the different strategies needed in animating.

Lots of formation programs and more topics will be offered next year to assist animators in ministry of the young.