By Marisol Becerra, Province Youth Ministry Assistant

On Saturday, April 27th, SYLC workshops took place simultaneously at St. Joseph’s Retreat Center in Rosemead, CA; Salesian College Preparatory in Richmond, CA; and San Luis Rey Church in Laredo, TX. The SYLC Workshops were led by the SYLC executive team, who traveled to each community to guide participants in exploring Salesian Leadership and discovering their strengths using the Clifton Strengths Assessment. 

The workshop began with a welcome and introduction to the history of SYLC and how this conference has evolved over the years. The SYLC participants were challenged to engage in different icebreaker activities to get to know each other better and learn more about Salesian spirituality. The Salesian stations included activities such as reviewing different Salesian saints, learning more about Don Bosco’s life, and identifying different activities as part of the four characteristics of the Salesian Oratory Model. Shortly after, the SYLC participants were challenged to reflect on their view of Salesian Leadership and someone they identify as a Salesian leader. It was beautiful to see the admiration and respect that was shown to various leaders from each community. The participants were then guided by the workshop facilitators to create a visual representation of what it means to be a Salesian leader, to welcome other SYLC participants when they arrive at the conference in June. The participants had an opportunity to present these posters and were excited to show what Salesian leadership represents to them. The participants later enjoyed some time for recreation and lunch. 

The second part of the workshop focused on reviewing individual characteristics and how each person can highlight and invest in their talents to build on a certain strength in their personality. The participants also had an opportunity to reflect on how they could utilize these strengths in different scenarios or how they have utilized them in the past. This was a great opportunity for the participants and adults to reflect on each others’ strengths through different experiences in their communities. 

This workshop served as both an opportunity for young people and adults from around the province to work collaboratively and a valuable platform for leaders to come together, share insights, and enhance their leadership skills. The SYLC participants are excited and ready for the conference in June!

St. John Bosco, pray for us! Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us!