By Victoria Aihi and Sr. Alice S. Fulgencio, FMA

       Boroko (Port Moresby), PNG, 12 June 2023 -- This year’s ADMA Youth camp has for its theme the strenna of the Rector Major for 2023: “As the Yeast in today’s Human Family”. Originally called the 300 Youth for Mary founded in 2008 by the late Fr. Valeriano Barbero, SDB, pioneer Salesian missionary in Papua New Guinea, the group has now evolved into the ADMA Youth. To this day it has remained an event that students from Catholic Schools in Port Moresby eagerly participate in. This year’s camp was meant to be a tribute of gratitude to Fr. Val as he was fondly called.

       From 25-28 May 2023, 268 students and facilitators took part in the ADMA Youth camp. The sessions were aimed at teaching young people Christian virtues and ensuring that they value their lives and choices as the “present” and not only the future of this developing nation, Papua New Guinea.

       The first session was a presentation by Fr Greg Bicomong SDB Provincial Superior for PGS Vice Province. In his talk on the strenna “As yeast in the human family”, he stressed on the increasing crime rate in the world with PNG coming in as the second nation on the list with the highest crime rate. He then challenged the young people to act as yeast in their families and communities by applying the social teachings of the church and becoming agents of social change.

       The Taize prayer with confessions in the evening capped the first day’s activity and it was both moving and inspiring to see how young people are capable of staying silent, praying fervently and approaching the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Four Salesian priests were available for this sacrament which, for a good number of participants, is a deep spiritual experience.

       The second session the following day was in line with what Fr. Greg presented. This time, it was a presentation by Mrs. Sheryll Extra-Isoaimo, a Salesian Cooperator who expounded on the strenna from a lay person’s perspective. Her presentation was titled, “To be Lay and to be Yeast.” Sharing and drawing from her personal experience as a wife, mother, and volunteer, she emphasized doing more as laity by having the desire to do magis. This comes from Ignatian spirituality as she was a Jesuit volunteer in the Philippines before coming to Papua New Guinea. She emphasized doing magis by saying that we are called to love God because God is always more - more loving, more compassionate and we as his creation are also called to do more - to do magis, is to do extra.

       Following the group sharing, each school was asked to come up with its own plan to echo what the representatives learned from the camp and to have its own initiative to animate the Marian group in the school and do outreach in the nearby community.

       A surprise bonus of the camp was the chance for the campers to visit the Marian exhibit of the Shrine which was just inaugurated and blessed on the Solemnity of Mary Help of Christians. The Marian exhibit is a project by the PGS Vice-Province under Fr. Gregorio Bicomong, SDB whose main aim is to promote devotion to Mary especially under her title Help of Christians. A central feature of the exhibit is the development of the devotion to Mary Help of Christians shown through artistically designed panels. The collection of different statues of Mary under different titles is also something that the young people found stunning.

       Overall, the camp was an amazing avenue for young people who share the same Christian beliefs to be able to learn from each other. As one participant shared, “The camp helped me in my spiritual journey to grow closer to God as well as giving me a venue to gain more confidence and win new friends.”

       Going back to their communities and their schools armed with commitment and enthusiasm, the campers are now ready to be yeast in their own families which will in turn influence their communities and then hopefully, the country.

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