Chicago: On Fire with Salesian Joy at Camp Don Bosco

By Fr. Richard Alejunas, SDB

(Chicago, IL – August 2) – To mark the 25th anniversary of the Salesian presence in Chicago, the local Educative Pastoral Community (EPC) made the courageous decision to expand its five-week summer day camp to include younger children. With the intention to bring an oratory experience to a wider age group, help working immigrant parents foster formative summer activities for their sons and daughters, aid economically challenged families, and create a Christian Salesian environment, the camp season was on fire with Salesian joy!

Beginning in 2023, Chicago's Camp Don Bosco is now one camp at two sites for boys and girls: at the St. John Bosco Church Savio Youth Center, ages four through seven, and at the St. James Church Valdocco Youth Center, ages eight through 14. Over 150 young people were animated by a summer camp staff of nearly 40 older teens, young adults, and SDBs. The camp is operated by St. John Bosco-St. James Parish with camp scholarships provided by the local Salesian community. This summer, it was enthusiastically led by Salesian brothers Fr. Juan Pablo Rubio (Camp Director) and Fr. David Sajdak (Staff Formation/Evangelization) and lay leaders Ms. Clara Calderon (Program Director/Junior Site) and Mr. Miguel Martinez, Jr. (Program Director/Senior Site).