# 329: FIJI YOUTH 'TRY ON' SALESIAN SPIRITUALITY

Julian Fox

SUVA: 16th April -- Some 30 key members of Fiji's Catholic Youth from the Nadera-Makoi parish took part recently in a day that they had specifically requested on 'Salesian' spirituality. Since 'youth' is an extended concept in many parts of the Pacific, and can include people up to the age of 35 if single (and a little younger if married it would seem!), the group comprised individuals who were teachers as well as youngsters still at school. By far the larger number, however, were unemployed youth who represented one of the significant problems facing young people in the nation.

The day came about because of contact with the Salesian seminarians who regularly move around the parish and whose witness of a joyful spirituality is catching. It was these young Salesians who presented the core of Salesian spirituality-in-action: games, prayer, talks, sharing, games (in that order), offering the young people a version of seminar that they had not quite witnessed before! The youthful participants now intend to take the message learnt to other sectors of Catholic Youth.