Belarus – A competition among Salesian oratories to promote sports culture, the spirit of friendship and peace among young people
Smarhon, Belarus – March 2024 - The fourth edition of the "Oratoryiada" event was held in the St Michael the Archangel parish in Smarhon on 23 March. This was a sports competition between the Salesian oratories in Belarus for children from the 5th and 7th classes. The sporting event began with Mass celebrated by the Provincial Delegate for the Belarusian Delegation, Fr Pavel Shcharbitsky, SDB, who stressed the importance for the participants to cultivate a sports culture and a spirit of friendship and peace, which are the fundamental goals of the "Oratoryiada". Fr Aleh Karaliou, SDB, In charge of Youth Ministry, opened the event which saw young athletes compete in different disciplines: table football, table tennis, darts, jumping rope, checkers and dance. After lunch, an intellectual contest was held in which participants answered questions related to the life and activity of St John Bosco. Two big team games took place at the end of the competition. At the end of the day there were the awards ceremony during which Fr Karaliou thanked all those who made the event possible.