(New Rochelle, N.Y. – October 9) – The Salesian Leadership Retreat took place from September 28 to October 4 at the Don Bosco Retreat Center in Haverstraw-Stony Point, N.Y. Sixteen young team members and ten core team members gathered from the preceding Friday, September 28, to Monday, October 1, to prepare for the arrival of the nine participating high schools on Monday. The Salesian Leadership Retreat is blessed to continue to welcome St. Petersburg Catholic High School as its young people carry the Salesian banner in spirit.
In total, the retreat consisted of 116 people (including team members, adult chaperones, and participants). Fr. Abraham Feliciano served as the program director; Guilherme Lopes and Victoria Weekley from the Province Youth Ministry Office worked closely together as the program coordinator and young team coordinator, respectively.
The SLR intends to help its participants grow in their faith and their leadership skills as they experience key moments, such as Reconciliation, adoration, daily Mass, and prayer services. There are also various community-building activities throughout the retreat to increase the sense of Salesian Family among the retreatants.
All participants felt greatly welcomed by the hospitality of the staff of the Don Bosco Retreat Center, who concretely showed the participants what it means to be a Salesian “Home that Welcomes.” The final Mass was held in the Shrine Chapel, where many leadership retreat alumni gathered to show their Salesian pride. Afterwards, food was provided by the Salesian Cooperators at a Salesian Family gathering.