DBM SETS UP LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME
SUVA: 24th June -- The incipient Don Bosco
Movement, a flexibale association of youngsters and some not so young launched
two months ago in Suva, has taken a small step forward by promoting a Leadership
Day for young (s)elected leaders in Class 8 (14 year olds) around Catholic
schools in the urban area. The first of these days occurred on Sunday and
was hosted by the leaders at St. John Bosco's School - not a Salesian school as
such but obviously (and happily) adopted by the Salesians as a youth and
apostolic base. Some 60 young leaders attended and the day was managed by
the Formation Community from Don Bosco House assisted by young secondary school
members of the DBM.
As a follow-up to this initiative, a leaders
newsletter has been prepared - initially for the most recent participants, but
with a view to extending it to all schools. The training of young leaders
appeared to be a gap in the system, in the schools at least. There is
already in place a very well-organised post-school Fiji Catholic Youth, but the
13-15 year olds have nothing and some years of observation have suggested that
this age group is an interesting 'plug-hole' throughwhich many young Catholics
drain away from active involvement in the Church.
