{"id":23105,"date":"2025-07-22T15:23:49","date_gmt":"2025-07-22T22:23:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/?p=23105"},"modified":"2025-07-22T15:23:49","modified_gmt":"2025-07-22T22:23:49","slug":"youth-disconnect-to-reconnect-connect-2-5-unites-faith-and-nature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/2025\/07\/22\/youth-disconnect-to-reconnect-connect-2-5-unites-faith-and-nature\/","title":{"rendered":"Youth Disconnect to Reconnect: Connect 2.5 Unites Faith and Nature"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>(ANS \u2013 Sulcorna)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Over 100 young people from Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka gathered at&nbsp;<strong>Don Bosco Agro-Ed Farm<\/strong>, Sulcorna, Goa, on&nbsp;<strong>July 20, 2025<\/strong>, for the much-anticipated&nbsp;<strong>Connect 2.5 retreat<\/strong>. Jointly organized by the&nbsp;<strong>Salesian Youth Movement<\/strong>&nbsp;y&nbsp;<strong>Don Bosco Youth Services<\/strong>, the event invited participants to disconnect from their digital screens and reconnect with nature, spirituality, and community. Despite heavy morning rains, the participants embraced the monsoon-kissed landscape of Goa with enthusiasm, as the downpour seamlessly complemented the theme of environmental harmony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The day began with a\u00a0<strong>Eucharistic celebration<\/strong>\u00a0led by\u00a0<strong>Fr. Jacinto Dias<\/strong>, who drew on his missionary experiences in South Africa to inspire the youth. He urged them to realign their lives by prioritizing God above all else, emphasizing divine justice, mercy, and the importance of constant spiritual renewal. The Mass was concelebrated by\u00a0<strong>Fr Clive Telles<\/strong>, Provincial of INP, alongside\u00a0<strong>Fr. Ronald Vaz<\/strong>,\u00a0<strong>Fr. Sheldon Fernandes<\/strong>y\u00a0<strong>Fr. Julius Rasquinha<\/strong>, underscoring the Salesian commitment to youth formation rooted in faith and a connection with nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Building Bonds Through Laughter and Play<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Following the Mass, participants were divided into ten\u00a0<strong>color-coded teams<\/strong>\u00a0for dynamic team-building activities led by\u00a0<strong>Fr. Ralin De Souza<\/strong>. These games, designed to break social barriers and foster camaraderie, quickly transformed strangers into teammates. The air was filled with laughter and cheers as the competitive spirit brought out the playful side of everyone involved. \u201cThe energy was infectious,\u201d remarked a participant from Panjim, highlighting how quickly connections were forged amidst the joyful atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>From Words to Action: Environmental Drive<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A key highlight of the day was the\u00a0<strong>environmental plantation drive<\/strong>, where participants transitioned from learning about ecology to actively contributing to it. Under the guidance of\u00a0<strong>Fr. Sredny Antao<\/strong>, Farm Manager, the youth received practical lessons on sapling cultivation, including spacing, soil preparation, and the correct handling of roots, with a focus on\u00a0<strong>areca nut farming<\/strong>. Undeterred by rain, participants rolled up their sleeves, mixing compost and planting saplings with care and dedication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some groups, led by\u00a0<strong>Fr. Lawrence Monteiro<\/strong>, Rector of Don Bosco Sulcorna, ventured to mountainous terrains via tractor to plant in more challenging conditions. The symbolic act of washing their mud-stained hands in a nearby river served as a humbling reminder of the relentless hard work of farmers who sustain the world. This experience left a profound impact, instilling in the youth a deeper appreciation for agriculture and environmental stewardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Rediscovering Joy through Nature<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The adventurous spirit of the day continued with an\u00a0<strong>afternoon trek<\/strong>\u00a0led by\u00a0<strong>Fr. Constantine Fernandes<\/strong>. The journey through lush hills, misty fields, and flowing streams offered participants a chance to immerse themselves in the breathtaking beauty of Goa\u2019s monsoon season. Along the way, simple observational tasks encouraged the youth to engage deeply with their natural surroundings. The trek concluded at a serene water source, where structured activities gave way to spontaneous joy. The youth played freely, rediscovering the pure happiness that comes from connecting with nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A day of Gratitude and Transformation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In his closing address,\u00a0<strong>Fr. Austin Fernandes<\/strong>, Director of Don Bosco Youth Services, expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of Connect 2.5. He acknowledged the behind-the-scenes efforts that brought the retreat to life and made its vision a reality. A final\u00a0<strong>prayer of thanksgiving<\/strong>\u00a0by\u00a0<strong>Fr. Ronald Vaz<\/strong>\u00a0marked the end of the formal program, recognizing both divine providence and human collaboration in shaping the day\u2019s success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A Transformative Experience<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Connect 2.5 was more than just a day away from screens\u2014it was a transformative journey of community building, ecological awareness, and spiritual renewal. Participants left with new friendships, cherished memories, and a deepened respect for the natural world. The event\u2019s success was evident not just in the numbers but in the visible shift among participants\u2014from digital consumers to active stewards of the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The&nbsp;<strong>Salesian Youth Movement\u2019s<\/strong>&nbsp;commitment to initiatives like Connect 2.5 reflects a profound understanding of modern challenges and the vital role of nature-based spiritual engagement in fostering resilient and grounded youth. As the monsoon clouds parted and the youth departed, the seeds of transformation\u2014both literal and metaphorical\u2014were firmly planted, promising a future rooted in harmony with creation.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(ANS \u2013 Sulcorna)&nbsp;\u2013 Over 100 young people from Goa, Maharashtra, and Karnataka gathered at&nbsp;Don Bosco Agro-Ed Farm, Sulcorna, Goa, on&nbsp;July 20, 2025, for the much-anticipated&nbsp;Connect 2.5 retreat. Jointly organized by the&nbsp;Salesian Youth Movement&nbsp;and&nbsp;Don Bosco Youth Services, the event invited participants to disconnect from their digital screens and reconnect with nature, spirituality, and community. Despite heavy morning rains, the participants embraced the monsoon-kissed landscape of Goa &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/2025\/07\/22\/youth-disconnect-to-reconnect-connect-2-5-unites-faith-and-nature\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continuar leyendo <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Youth Disconnect to Reconnect: Connect 2.5 Unites Faith and Nature<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":10336596,"featured_media":23108,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[516714022,15462108],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-salesian-world-news","category-salesian-youth-movement"],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p59ePG-60F","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/salesianbulletin.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/youth-disconnect-to-reconnect-600.jpg?fit=600%2C378&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10336596"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23105"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23110,"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23105\/revisions\/23110"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23108"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/salesianbulletin.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}