Glasgow (Scotland). From 30 June to 11 July 2025, the children of the Easterhouse Community in Glasgow, of St. Thomas of Canterbury Province (GBR), experienced the summer camp, “Pilgrims of Hope”.
The account of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the St. John Bosco Community:
With the collaboration of volunteers, Salesian confreres of Don Bosco, young people, the parish priest Fr. Jim, and some parishioners from the parish of St. Benedict, the camp took place and ended with success and joy. It can be said that the Salesian atmosphere permeated our Community in recent days. And certainly, we experienced a significant moment walking together with young people in the hope of the Holy Year.
To help children experience activities on the topic, the FMA of the Organizing Committee, Sister Gill McCambridge, Sister Anne Frances McNamee, Sister Xuan Dan Tran Ngoc, Sister Grenda Musonda, and the volunteers, involved the children in participating in the activities with careful preparation and a joyful and cordial presence, in the spirit of Da mihi animas cetera tolle.
Every day, before starting group activities, the children listened to a good thought to start the new day full of energy. The presentations and group activities helped the children to better understand the meaning of the Jubilee Logo, the invitation to live in hope, to meet witnesses of holiness, etc. Furthermore, through various sporting, artistic, and recreational activities, in addition to encouraging them to discover and make use of their talents, they were also offered the opportunity to have fun, to develop transversal skills, and relate to the joy and simplicity of their age.
The participants were also able to learn to prepare traditional desserts, draw, do crafts and other activities, in each of which they always paid attention to the instructions, in order to be able to patiently and meticulously do their crafts, certainly not artistically perfect, but excellent for the love and creativity they put into it.
One of the fundamental values of the Salesian spirit that we have tried to convey to them is gratitude. These two weeks of summer activities were spent in joy and gratitude to God and all those who took part, working hard to bring their talents to bear with creativity, love, and joy, contributing to a lively cultural program, joyful and well-orchestrated.
The summer camp is over, but as “Pilgrims of Hope”, with the Church and the members of the Salesian Family, we will continue the journey and mission together with the young people, with the certainty that hope lies in the dreams, imagination, and courage of those who dare to turn dreams into reality, entrusting everything to God through the intercession of Mary Help of Christians.
This is not just an invitation for us, but a task entrusted to us. It is the task of Christians in this Jubilee Year to bring hope to the different situations of life, because Christian hope is not the happy ending of a film” to be waited for passively. “It is God’s promise that we will be welcomed here, right now, on this suffering and groaning earth,” as Pope Francis said.
