By Brother Al Vu

From Aptos, California,

After a few years of hiatus due to the pandemic, the summer program of our last Salesian resident camp in the United States is back in full swing once again. The Salesians, along with Cooperators and youth animators, have gathered young people from all over the western part of the US with a good group of kids coming from the local area of Watsonville, a predominantly farming and migrant community. 

The week has included the usual summer camp activities ranging from archery to various sports and crafts. The Salesians introduced a few new activities this year with the help of our novices that included a low ropes obstacle course, martial arts, and baking. The regular Salesian tradition of daily Eucharist, time for confession, and Marian devotion centered the program as well as catechetical sessions that helped the young people deepen their faith in our Salesian Youth Spirituality. 

Adding to the fun and capturing the imagination of the youth were varied evening activities where the young people played the part of being the protagonists as Space Rangers in a creative story of saving the galaxy from the threat of evil. At the heart of the story were lessons about particular Christian virtues that can practically be incorporated into daily life. These much loved and anticipated activities are a highlight to the camp day and what makes the resident camp experience so special. 

As this first week draws to a close, work is being done in preparation for the second week. Like in the story, Camp St. Francis is not only providing a fun filled Salesian experience, but hoping that the lessons learned here become tools for the young to courageously go out and transform the world, and even perhaps the galaxy. 

The story continues until next week…. Dun… dun… dun!

– Brother Al Vu