3022 Ecce homo! Ecce Don Bosco! 1st Korea Salesian Youth Day
austraLasia #3022

Ecce homo! Ecce Don Bosco! 1st Korea Salesian Youth Day
by Br Hilario Seo sdb
DAEJEON --  300 young people gathered at the Salesian Youth Centre in Daejeon, their eyes brighter than the stars in the cold, dark sky, with the desire to encounter Don Bosco and Jesus.

The majority of these youngsters belong to the Salesian Youth Movement run by the local communities, and have been known as ‘Bosconians’ since 2008. Korea Salesian Youth Day with the title ‘Ecce Homo Ecce Don Bosco!’ is the result of cooperation between SDBs and FMAs, especially those who are involved directly in the youth ministry field.

Young people from all over the country came together with Salesians to listen to the story of Don Bosco, experiencing his love for the young, and had the time to explore  God's plan for each of them. In particular, listening to the some of the Salesians' vocation story, they leaned something of what God’s call might mean for them - that each of us has his or her own call that needs to be realised by the following the Lord.

"Being young, in other words, means having dreams. Like Don Bosco, each one of you has your dream and needs to put in the effort to realise it. We Salesians are going to always accompany you on your journey to make it come true”, the Provincial, Fr Stephen Nam told them during his homily at the closing Mass. He encouraged young people to strengthen the SYM and be more active in a society in these uncertain times, so they can help many other young people who can often be found without any dream of their own.

One young person at the event said "I would like to offer this fantastic experience to my friends around me. Over the three days and two nights of SYD, I  was certainly able to discover the extent of Don Bosco’s love, a love that continues until today through the Salesians. I have decided to take up an apostle’s role amongst my friends, as Don Bosco asked young people to do in his own time.”

The SDBs and FMAs who have been closely involved with running the KSYD are now planning to celebrate it every year: this was the request of the young people who attended this year.