Tam Ha (Vietnam). On March 10, 2024 and March 17, 2024, the Youth Pastoral Sector of the Mary Help of Christians Province (VTN) organized two days of meeting for “GEN H 2024” youth from South Vietnam in Bao Loc, Lam Dong Province and from North Vietnam in Soc Son, Capital of Hanoi.
The theme of the two days of meeting is “DREAM” inspired by the Strenna 2024 of Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime – the Rector Major of the Salesian Don Bosco. The goal of the Meeting Days is to help young people realize that God has a plan and dream for each person and they have a plan to ensure God’s dream for themselves. The theme song of the two days meeting is “Live like Don Bosco”.
Present in the two days meeting was Sr. Maria Hoang Thi Thu Ha – the Provincial, Sr. Maria Pham Thi Thu Ha – the Coordinator of Youth Pastoral Sector; Sr. Maria Thien Hang – Head of the Youth Movement (YM) and the YM team, the Community Animators, Sisters and many young people from the North – Central – South of Vietnam.
After check-in and welcoming each other, the participants listened to the sharing of Sr. Maria – the Provincial: “Thank you for your presence. I feel an overwhelming joy when I see. The theme of “DREAM” in this meeting will help us understand that dreams are like seeds planted in the ground that need to be taken care of every day. If we stop dreaming, we will no longer try. Don Bosco also had a dream in his life and Mother Mary herself accompanied and guided Don Bosco step by step to realize his dream. Keep discovering and realizing God’s dream in your life. Trust in God and Mother Mary so that they can lead us to fulfill our dreams”.
Next, everyone participated in a short play of outstanding events in the life of Saint John Bosco. Through this, young people understand more how God revealed His intentions to Don Bosco through dreams and Don Bosco seeked God’s will with trust and confidence for the soul salvation of young people, especially poor and abandoned ones. After that, young people attended the Holy Mass.
In the South, young people participated in the workshop animated by Father Giuse Nguyen Xuan Quang, SDB to experience and discover their dreams.
Next is the REACH activity and the journey of REACH THE DREAM animated by members of the Provincial Youth Movement team.The REACH activity aimed to help young people look back on the half of the meeting day, give them strength and direction so that they could continue on their “DREAM” journey.
On the journey of REACH THE DREAM, young people experienced four different touches, each with a name: CONFIDENCE – I can, I am valuable, capable, ready to express myself with other people. PERSISTENCE – Not giving up, overcoming difficulties, courage to face difficulties, being able to recover. HARDWORKING – Careful, regular, self-aware. DISCIPLINE – Don’t be distracted, follow instructions and choose wisely.
Interspersed with the above activities and journey to the dream were musical performances of young people from different local communities. Ending was the Eucharistic Adoration and the Departure Rite.
The Youth Meeting Days closed but opened a new journey with dreams that young people could discover and reach along with experiences of enthusiasm, dynamism and youthfulness. Wishing them to keep their youthful energy so that wherever they go, they will be witness to a Generation of Hope, daring to dream and to do.
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