Edmonton: Friendship and Adventure at St. Dominic Savio Parish

By Michael Okwegba, St. Dominic Savio Parish Youth Minister, Edmonton, AB

(Edmonton, AB – August 30) – During August, St. Dominic Savio Parish offered a lively week of fun, friendship, and faith for 45 youth who attended the parish's Wilderness Adventure Youth Summer Camp.

The camp covered topics on sacraments and faith and offered great moments of fun, music, craft, songs, sports, and snacks. Over ten volunteers were actively present throughout the week. They accompanied, led, and taught youth various activities. Each day began with a picture display of the previous day, music, prayer, talk, presentation on one particular sacrament, and virtue demonstration. The camp dedicated most of the final day to completing craft work (picture frames) and preparing for the special Holy Mass.

It was great to see three of our Salesian priests celebrating the Eucharist for our young people and their parents. While Fr. Sathia Kulandaisamy presided over the Mass, Edmonton Director Fr. Mario Villaraza and our Pastor, Fr. Saga Devadoss, concelebrated. Having used visuals and captions, Fr. Mario gave a captivating homily and a challenge particularly to the young participants to become super-teenage-heroes like Sts. Dominic Savio, Laura Vicuña, Maria Goretti, and Bl. Carlo Acutis.

The weeklong summer camp boosted up young people's knowledge of faith, virtue, and sacraments. For them, it was so very nice, full of joyful moments and led to learning opportunities and cultivating friendships.